One of the things that we seem to be squeemish about is throwing the GOP's hypocritical and oppressive policies right back in their faces. More or less it's because we're afraid of how this could come back and bite us in the ass. Well, since we all agree that our country is pretty much screwed at this point, why don't we take the marriage issue to the next level?
I propose that the Democrats put forth a brand new bill that the Christian Right - who so don't want to be called that anymore (too bad) - cannot possible turn down less they be labeled as massive hypocrites. We can call this the Civil Union Protection Act, the CUP Act.
So what does this proposed law entail?
First, it takes head on an issue we should now bring forth as a key Democratic principle: eliminating "marriage" from government law books, making "marriage" itself the responsibility of a church. Since the Democratic Party is the
Party of Empowerment, not of government but of people, we empower the separation of church and state, strengthening our Constitution, by doing this. We make it a church's business to institute the name marriage to two people who want to join together in matrimony.
Now, just because we take marriage out of government books does not mean some standard should be applicable for various benefits for married, or should I now say "joined" couples. This law would set a national standard for all such unions, regardless of the sexual orientation of the two people. The church can declare marriage between two people or what have you, but they will have to be joined legally by this civil union agreement if they want to achieve the marriage benefits of the tax and insurance systems. A simple standard for all people because America is blind to prejudice, and the Democratic Party wishes to keep that blindfold on to make it an issue of fairness for all Americans.
But here is where we can go for the jugular if we want. Since the Christian Right wants our government to take the literal teachings of the Bible and make them the law of the land, then to really save the sanctity of marriage, we can propose an amendment (if it doesn't already exist in the bill) that will strengthen the famous vow, "until death due us part." If marriage is such a sacred institution that needs saving, then we might as well get tough on divorce, making it illegal for any American, outside of abnormal circumstances, to get one (those abnormal circumstances include rape).
Now I know you are saying, "Whoa there, let's not get carried away." And I say, "Why? What do you have to hide? How many times have you been divorced? How many children have you had outside of marriage that never had a father, or a mother for that matter?" If we want to improve the lives of our children and the sanctity of marriage, then we are just going to have to get tough people, and start making people think long and hard before they go off and marry whoever they want. Our law can state that once two people join together legally under our government as a civil union, that union cannot break apart ever until one of them dies.
Some could say, "Alright, I'll just get my marriage down in Mexico." Yes you can, but don't think it will be recognized under the national civil union standard in this country. A symbolic arrangement is all you'll get out of a Mexican marriage.
Of course, some could say, "Fine! I'll just keep on screwing other girls while staying married to this woman, it don't mind me." Oh but it will, because, as a pander to the Christian Right, adultery will now carry a greater penalty, including prison time. *Gasp* No way - prison for having promiscuous sex? Nope, adultery - relationship outside the marriage bonds of two people. You can have as much sex as you want - just make certain that the person you are doing it with is legally single and not already in one civil union, or you will find yourself in big trouble. Let's say...3 years for the one the adulteror sought, and 5 years plus partial loss of civil union benefits for the adulteror his/herself? And for the adulteror, any future infidelity, in or outside of prison, is 5 years compounded on that! What if the adultery happened outside this country? You can do that, it's your choice, but if you are accused of it here, you may have to pull a Roman Polanski.
Now, most would decry, from the conservative side, that this is yet another big government proposal. Ask them if gay marriage banishment is not just the same, and then ask them why they are going against the very folks that drove them into office and what they want. The Christian Right want big government to tackle morality - we'd rather not, but in an effort to appease all sides in this life and death issue, sometimes you gotta take the bull by the horns.
Fat chance a bill like this (with more to add no doubt) would ever pass, but we can put the issue right back on the table and throw the rising divorce and single mother rates right back in the face of the Christian Right, asking them if this is less moral than the gay marriage they all fear. Who knows - maybe this legislation will scare the pants off the Christian Right that they may have to back off on their anti-gay marriage crusade, lest they lose credibility with hypocrisy. For the next four years, it doesn't matter if any of our proposed laws gets passed, it's whether or not we have the guts to get it out in the open and spawn a much-needed discussion, something our Democratic Congressmen and Senators have failed to do for a long time.