What are your thoughts? Polygamy has been practiced for thousands of years and monogamy only became the norm of the west during the Roman empire. So should polygamy be legalized in America and why or why not?
shareA lot of fundamentalist Mormons DO NOT WANT polygamy legalized -- the reason being that they use the situation for a large portion of their income. Typically in the groups who live communally (such as Warren Jeffs flock) the men want all their wives to be single unwed mothers in the eyes of the law. This entitles them to to social assistance payments that grow with EVERY child they have. Why do you think the communal groups have so many damn children? Each one is a welfare check. The more wives you collect with the more children they birth means more money for the husband since all those welfare checks (minus the church's cut) get turned over to the husband.
shareWhy do you think the communal groups have so many damn children? Each one is a welfare check.
I think states control welfare aid and it's different in each state, however, I believe this to be true.
I can't imagine it getting better now that Trump is in office. If anything the cuts will be deeper.share
TANF replaced AFDC in 1997, which basically changed the way that public assistance is distributed. Each state receives a block grant and can decide how to distribute the funds; however rather than 'welfare' it is viewed at 'workfare'; i.e., each state's plan has to demonstrate that recipients are working towards self sufficiency, and that the funds are only a temporary stop gap, rather than a long term monetary solution for needy families.
Utah plugged the hole in AFDC for polygamist families long before 1997. Their AFDC system had a self sufficiency mandate starting in 1985.
Yes, there have been problems with Food Stamp fraud in the polygamist towns; however, people need to understand that Food Stamps are not welfare. Eligibility is based on family income. During the recession as many as 35% of US families were receiving food stamps.
I was being figurative instead of literal. I know there aren't actual checks for each kid. Each kid simply bumps up the dollar amount on the mother's welfare check.
sharePolygamist families do not receive a welfare check, especially since welfare hasn't existed in its old form since the Clinton administration.
Since they are not working or going to school, polygamist women do not qualify for TANF.
"What are your thoughts? Polygamy has been practiced for thousands of years and monogamy only became the norm of the west during the Roman empire. So should polygamy be legalized in America and why or why not?"
I personally do not have a problem with polygamy - per se. What consenting ADULTS choose to do is their business, as long as it hurts no one. The problem with polygamy in some groups is that it seems to involve younger and younger girls... until you see children as young as 12 (younger?) forced to marry men old enough to be their grandfather/great grandfather. Even the great leaders of the Mormon church married very young girls when they were in advanced years. Brigham Young married several 16 year old girls (and one 15 year old) when he was aged 44 and beyond. What young teenaged girl wants to be saddled with an old man with dozens of wives? For some reason young girls being pushed/forced into these marriages seems to occur in polygamist societies.
I find it kind of funny how offended so many women are by Kody Brown and his wives. Yeah... polygamy is NOT for me - but who cares if this guy and these women feel it is right for them? Of course putting your personal business on TV is inviting other people's opinions. :)
I agree with everything you said, you bring up some great points. As long as the people participating in polygamy are consenting adults and not kids or teenagers I don't have many problems with it.
shareIt's a ridiculous subject to discuss which is why I responded with an emoji. There are many reasons it is illegal and should stay that way, but it should not be a crime as DesertDude said.
shareDecriminalized yes; legalized no.
sharewest during the Roman empire.
I don't think it should be legalized. Doing so would open pandora's box. Many people like Warren Jeffs and his group think it's ok to marry children. Having said that, those that are like The Browns, that are consenting adults and are not hurting children, should be left alone. I know what I stated may sound like a double standard but I think most of you get what I mean.
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