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6.23.2004
Theme Week Continues Whilst thinking about marriage in the context of market metaphor I came upon an idea. Environmentalism and the opposition to gay marriage have many parallels. Both assume that there is something precious that needs to be protected and that the only way to do so is to restrict human behavior in the market. Environmentalists believe that the Earth and the environment are precious assets that need to be protected from the actions of the market. They call for banning products like SUV's and for regulations restricting people from acting in ways (pollution) that they feel will destroy the environment. Gay marriage opponents believe that the institution of marriage is so vital to the health and harmony of the human race that it must be protected from actions that will damage its effectiveness. The basic premise is the same but one side is concerned with the economic marketplace and the other is concerned with the social marketplace. Gay marriage = Pollution in the social environment? The assumption rests in the belief that once the institution of marriage becomes polluted with same sex couples it will no longer be a viable method of enforcing desirable behavior. Human beings as animals only really rise above the level of savages by the creation and enforcement of social institutions. The debate centers around whether allowing gay marriage will result in the breakdown of marriage or if it will just be absorbed like interracial marriages. Pop quiz! Place these three things in order from most to least important: (for extra credit rank National Security as well) I think its safe to assume that social institutions play an integral part in the success or failure of a society. The social environment you live within is defined by a collective agreement to abide by the institutions that everyone agrees work best to maximize the benefit of all who live there. At least that's how it is supposed to work in a Democracy where the participants define which institutions are important enough to codify into laws. Environmentalism assumes that individual liberty has to be curtailed for the good of preserving the physical world around us. To that end we debate which actions are causing harm to the environment and we limit those actions by individuals. Some people even wish to ban gasguzzlers, to which people cry "you can't tell me what to do." To aggravate both camps you could always marry your Hummer. I'm sure the introduction of the Hummer into the marketplace was viewed with as much horror as the same sex weddings in Boston and San Francisco. How you view these events depends on how you rank the above institutions. Both sides will argue that for the "greater good" we must act. Who you choose to believe should be based on the evidence they bring to the table. For another interesting take on Gay Marriage read "Capitalist Coupling" by boy of Temptation Waits. |
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