FINALLY, A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM MICHAEL KINSLEY WANTS TO PRIVATIZE (via Brian Hoffman)

Abolish Marriage: Let's really get the government out of our bedrooms. (Michael Kinsley, July 3, 2003, The Washington Post)

That solution is to end the institution of marriage. Or rather (he hastens to clarify, dear) the solution is to end the institution of government-sanctioned marriage. Or, framed to appeal to conservatives: End the government monopoly on marriage. Wait, I've got it: Privatize marriage. These slogans all mean the same thing. Let churches and other religious institutions continue to offer marriage ceremonies. Let department stores and casinos get into the act if they want. Let each organization decide for itself what kinds of couples it wants to offer marriage to. Let couples celebrate their union in any way they choose and consider themselves married whenever they want. Let others be free to consider them not married, under rules these others may prefer. And, yes, if three people want to get married, or one person wants to marry herself, and someone else wants to conduct a ceremony and declare them married, let 'em. If you and your government aren't implicated, what do you care?

Rather, why not resanctify and resacralize marriage? Restore the monopoly to the churches where it belongs, as a covenant made before God. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 10, 2003 8:50 PM