Nothing is so interesting and revealing as our Society's believes and actions about freedom than in the field of "religious" freedom. The recent incarceration of the El Dorado Texas group is a prime example. Does the Government have an interest in outlawing polygamy? Should arranged marriage be a violation of law? What's the "correct" age of consent? Are these issues a matter of law or religion?
Polygamy in Texas is not a matter that the government should concern itself with. I am troubled that some members of the group may be captives held against their will or physically abused and these aspects need to be dealt with. Aside from that, what business does the government have in this?
To the best of my knowledge, these folks aren't complaining that homosexual (or conventional heterosexual) marriage is an assault on polygamy. They don't complain about popular culture effecting their community. They are not trying to restrict abortion choice for people not of their order. They have not tried to outlaw alcoholic beverages in Texas. They are not trying to get the Government to promote their moral believes on the population at large. They don't have one of the numerous religious channels that jam-up my cable TV. They are not trying to censor TV, music or movies to protect their children.
Maybe having multiple wives keeps them out of the mischief that consumes a lot of the other religious fundamentalists in this country. Them trying to live their lives in their compound without trying to inflict their views on those outside is a refreshing and untypical position for a religious group. Maybe what the Pat Robertsons, James Dobsons, and other fundamentalists need is a few more wives to keep them occupied and away from trying to re-order society to their views.
To me there's a great difference of those who practice their strange beliefs, no matter how bizarre, amongst their own and those who wish to inflict their beliefs on others via government control or sanction.