The republican dominated legislature here in Raleigh are submitting legislation that speaks to marriage. However, unlike the vast majority of recent such bills, this one has nothing to do with gay marriage or civil unions.
Raleigh, N.C. — State lawmakers are considering making divorces harder to get in North Carolina.
Senate Bill 518, dubbed the Healthy Marriage Act, would double the one-year waiting period before a divorce could be granted and would require husband and wife to receive conflict resolution counseling, as well as counseling if they have children. Supporters said they believe the restrictions will help cut the state’s divorce rate.
Now, I don’t think that this action in any way excuses the liberty restricting legislation that has passed regarding gay marriage, but it is interesting to see republicans acting on oft cited criticisms of gay marriage opposition laws. Namely, divorce of straight couples.
And, like laws restricting the rights of our gay friends, families and citizens, this law suffers the same faults. Marriage, in the eyes of the state, should be a contractual matter. And if two people want to enter into such an arrangement, they should be able to. And, in similar logic, if they want to end said relationship, they ought to be able to do that as well.
Unless, of course, you buy into the liberal version of the “collective” and reject the notion of “private” relationships. In which case, if the community feels that marriages are better for society, well, then, perhaps divorce should just be outlawed completely.