Movement under way in California to ban divorce
By Judy Lin Associated Press
Posted: 11/30/2009 11:41:40 AM PST
Updated: 11/30/2009 01:41:34 PM PST
SACRAMENTO — Til death do us part? The vow would really hold true in California if a Sacramento Web designer gets his way.
In a movement that seems ripped from the pages of Comedy Channel writers, John Marcotte wants to put a measure on the ballot next year to ban divorce in California.
The effort is meant to be a satirical statement after California voters outlawed gay marriage in 2008, largely on the argument that a ban is needed to protect the sanctity of traditional marriage. If that's the case, then Marcotte reasons voters should have no problem banning divorce.
"Since California has decided to protect traditional marriage, I think it would be hypocritical of us not to sacrifice some of our own rights to protect traditional marriage even more," the 38-year-old married father of two said.
Marcotte said he has collected dozens of signatures, including one from his wife of seven years. The initiative's Facebook fans have swelled to more than 11,000. Volunteers that include gay activists and members of a local comedy troupe have signed on to help.
Marcotte is looking into whether he can gather signatures online, as proponents are doing for another proposed 2010 initiative to repeal the gay marriage ban. But the odds are stacked against a campaign funded primarily by the sale of $12 T-shirts featuring bride and groom stick figures chained at the wrists.
Marcotte needs 694,354 valid signatures by March 22, a high hurdle in a state where the typical petition drive costs millions of dollars. Even if his proposed constitutional amendment made next year's ballot, it's not clear how voters would react.
Nationwide, about half of all marriages end in divorce.
If you keep reading the linked article, you'll see that some people are taking it seriously. Catholics, I'm guessing.
100% of my marriage ended in divorce.
E@L
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28 comments:
Good idea.
If they banned marriage-then all of us would have a lot more money!
MomMad: I knew you'd take it seriously.
Skip: I have had a purely personal marriage ban going for the last 12 years (since I came to Asia).
I am all for divorce, but like the others I propose a marriage ban
Maybe a marriage license should be like a dog license or gun license that needs to be renewed after a period of 3 or 4 years or the marriage lapses.
If you have improved your wife (a bteer cook, better manners...) during the period of the marriage you should be entitled to compensation from her next owner/partner/licensee.
We're hearing from mixed assortment of misogynists here, it would interesting to listen what some women feel about the absence of divorce, or marriage, or for having disposable husbands. I know my ex-wife for one would push for that. Sadly, as no women come to this blog for fear of someone mentioning their penis and it's discontents, we need someone like my mate Indiana, who only has female readers, to take it to the ladies.
Hahaha, my readership is way down for me to comment on something like this or get the ladies to respond.
I see it as one step towards the goal of banning breeding. ~grin~
So, when are you and the cute one going have kids, Mr Anti-breeder?
You realize all this sex you are having is just a sublimation of your testicles' natural desire to reproduce themselves.
Look at your two comments..."going to have kids" and "all this sex", you realise that these are not mutually inclusive activities, that the act of the first one completely nullifies any chance of the second...
...so why would I want to do the first?
What are you raving about? It is certainly possible to have sex after kids! Just not as often. Or as well. Or as enjoyably.
But that is how people have second and third babies, at least that's the rumour.
I was going to ask how many kids you have? But instead I will just sit with a big grin on my face :-)
You just lie back and think of England...
Not all women are against divorce, as they tend to initiate the majority of them, at least in Australia. So I am wonder why the assumption on Misogyny? Myself, I love women, I just don't like the way society here treats marriage or at least the end of one.
I saw a great interview with one of the ABBA women once, she just said, "In Sweden we just see divorce as a fact of life and just get on with our lives" In the societies that were inflicted with Victorian era puritanical values it is not always this mature.
Scott: well that was a joke prompted by H-G comments about "improving" the wife... and secondly you hadn't comment so I didn't mean to impugne your uxoriousness!
But I do have some readers who have had horrible experiences of divorce and are distrustful and hestitant with relationships because of that though... but of course that in itself doesn't make them misogynists, more misodivorcegenist because of the horendous treatment of men, the opinion that men, as owners of penises are a rice-paper wall away from being rapists and child-molesters!
As Rod Stewart allegedly said something like: "I'm not going to get divorced again. Next time I feel like getting married, I'm just going to find a woman I don't like and give her my house, my kids and half my money."
Is Divorce such a financial penalty to men in Asia?
Speaking for myself I have essentially had to start again afterwards. However I am happier for it and young enough to roll with it, although my career has been off track for a while. This could actually be a good thing though...
Hopefully...
@Scott: I don't believe it is such an issue yet, except with those Thai wives in whose name the house and the business seem to to be registered...
But I was thinking about the financial castration you can get in Australia if she decides to be a bitch about. A buddy of mine lost over 10 million dollars to a long separated ex, money he had made AFTER they had broken up, because her lawyer whispered in her ear when she just wanted out and had been prepared for a reasonable settlement prior to that... and there is Scorpy (on my blog-roll somewhere - do I have a blogroll anymore?) with his story about the separation from the kids on false accusations.
You shouldn't have had to start again in my opinion. A divorce in Australia can be as bad a serious illness is to an unemployed person in America - it's gonna kill ya. That is just wrong.
Just another reason to never get married.
Yep, I'm with the banning marriage thing.
'I don't believe it is such an issue yet, except with those Thai wives in whose name the house and the business seem to to be registered...'
Is there someone you have in mind? :-)
Dan: no, actually - but there is one of my colleagues, who is doing very well his lovely wife of 5 years though, and about five people I know from Hong Kong, some of whom are not doing so well! In truth, I've not met anyone who has gone through the alleged rough and tumble of a Thai divorce, so maybe I am unjustified perpetuating this possible myth. The Thai bookstores however a filled with warning stories however...
DH: change of heart? You know, I was just thinking: no marriage = no divorce. Now that works fine for E@L.
Yeah second thoughts....bit too personal. What the hell...here it is again...
No marriage = no divorce....works for me (us).
Make marriage more difficult so that if you want to do this then it is as painful as divorce.
What about making all the people who attend the marriage ceremony also responsible for paying part of the divorce settlement. Their names are collected and they receive a claim if the marriage breaks up. I bet the size of these ceremonys would soon drop off.
The single solitary thing I can think of in support of marriage is raising a family. I don't think it serves any other purpose since I know precious few people who can live together for decades without wanting to kill each other.
Or as a wise man once told me: "if it flies, floats, fucks or has wheels rent it!"
Jay: American social commentator, Barbara Ehrenreich had a great idea in her book "This Land Is Their Land" (and it's probably on her blog somewhere) that marriage should be a commitment to the children, not a result of a short term lustful whim - rather than making a promise to be faithful to each other forever, which seems a wishful and unlikely outcome given what really happens these days, people should sign an agreement for mutual and equal support of the children of their mating (my term not hers) up till the time of their independence.
I thought that was a great idea, though it does seem to dull the sheen of Love Making The World Go Around.
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