Polygamy

[Mr. Saint]

In a week I am arguing polygamy at a political convention. The resolution reads “Resolve; Polygamy should be legalized in the United States”. I am arguing Pro. I already have a few good arguments, most of which concern constitutional law and ethical government behavior. I was wondering if anyone would like to give there two cents worth for either side to help me prep.

[raez]

I'd say you'd probably need a good arguement as to how polygamic families might be treated as far as tax purposes and such go, for the sake of fairness versus 2 partner marriages. So would polygamists be at an advantage or disadvantage financially, and how might the opposition use that as an arguement against you..worth looking into if you haven't already. I wouldn't think it would be a major talking point though, just something to be prepared for. Other than that though, I personally don't have any arguement against it. Not something I would ever want to do, but each to their own. If polygamy is practiced in such a way that all parties are doing so by their own free will and consent and are given equal treatment within the home, it's not something I consider to be an infringement upon anyone's rights.

I think most people are against polygamy for a few reasons... because they have a religious perspective that says it is morally wrong, because it is often associated with cult behavior, or from a feminist perspective..because it is most often used in a sexist way, in other words the man is allowed to have as many wives as he pleases, while the women are not and are treated as subservient to the husband, rather than women also being free to choose who and how many they marry and have equal voice in the household.

[EvilEvilKitten]

In theory ok but in reality, it isn't very pretty.

Too often, the government picks up the tab for all of those kids and non-working mothers. PolyGYNY is one paycheck supporting how many???? Most of girls who participate begin marrying at age 14 and they stop school because they're running a home and having kids. Undereducated females are not terribly employable - not in legit businesses anyway.

Now polyANDRY is much more economically feasible - all of those lovely paychecks supporting one woman and fewer kids! But the fragile male ego rears its ugly head. I refer you to Tibet. Too often people just assume polygamy is just one man and several women.

The main problem is the development, or lack thereof, of self-esteem. Of being an individual. Of being the most important person to another person. Please remember that polygamy is NOT the same as polyamory. If you will recall the Middle East where men are permitted to have 4 wives....well, you can see the effects. There a wife can be tossed out on her ear, stripped of her kids, and deprived of making a decent honest living at a word from her 'loving husband'. Why? Because where you can have many wives, each wife is worth less, esp if you can 'trade her out' at little cost to yourself. Polygamy usually becomes nothing more than a male ego trip. Penis waving inter-male competition.

In theory, polygamy is ok but in REALITY??? No.

I strongly urge you to read the book: Evaluating the Effects of Polygamy on Women and Children in Four North American Mormon Fundamentalist Groups: An Anthropological Study by Janet Bennion.

[Mr. Saint]

I completely agree with you. In most cases, the practice of polygamy is usually wrong. There are a few cases of consensual successful polygamies and polyandrous. That why it is very important that I take control of the topic of the debate, make it about what I wanted it to be about. Make sure that my opponent can not make the argument about the Mormon Church. As you probably have seen I am not a supporter of the Mormon Church by any stretch of the imagination. But that book does sound interesting, I will have to read it when I get some time.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Check with your local library - they'll get it in for you - for free!