Marriage — should it be the state’s business at all?

This is a very interesting op-ed by history professor Stephanie Coontz. She argues that historically government was not as involved in marriage as it is now and that marriage licenses are “no longer the chief determinant of which obligations a couple must keep, either to their children or to each other.” Clearly, she is making an argument for the legalization of gay marriage, but she also points out that marriage between hetrosexuals has changed.

One of the reasons I would argue that marriage has changed is that we are living longer and cycling through more partners, creating larger extended families which also require new rules. Soon, it won’t only be the gay issue pushing marriage reform, it will be the longevity issue as well.