Why I Support Prop 8

I have thought a lot about Proposition 8 and the argument that some put forth that even if someone is personally opposed to same-sex marriage, the government should not be permitted to ban it because “you can’t legislate morality.”

This argument can be very daunting for good people who are understandably afraid of being accused of discrimination or being labeled as bigots or worse. It is important to remember, however, that all laws are based on a set of moral beliefs and always have been. From the earliest times, governments have enacted laws because they felt that certain actions were morally wrong—and should consequently be punished—or that other actions were morally right—and should be rewarded. If you think about it, you will realize that this is true and actually fairly obvious.

For example, we have laws that provide tax incentives to people that buy hybrid cars because our society has decided that it is morally correct to conserve more energy and use less oil. On the other hand, our society has enacted laws that limit a person’s right to smoke because we have decided that smoking can have detrimental effects those around the smoker.

Laws regarding marriage are no different. Governments recognize marriages because marriages stabilize society, promote families, and have other positive impacts. For a society to survive and even prosper, procreation is essential. Promoting families is perhaps the best way to encourage procreation and there is no argument that children do best when they are raised in a home with both a mother and a father. Children need strong families with both positive male and female parental influences. This arrangement has been proven to have an extremely beneficial impact on society and this is the reason why government has the right to endorse only those marriages that are between a man and a woman.

In some countries in Europe, for example, the economy and structure of the society are being severely impacted in a negative fashion because of declining birth rates.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DB143FF93BA1575BC0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

In Italy, the government has actually passed a law to pay families to have children:
http://www.mommiesonline.net/health/low-birth-rates.php

Proposition 8 does not take away an individual’s right to live or interact with another person in whatever manner or fashion they choose. Indeed, those that choose to do so are entitled already to receive additional rights as domestic partners. Proposition 8 states only that the state does not have to promote those relationships by calling it “marriage.” If Proposition 8 passes, marriage will be reserved for only those relationships that are between a man and a woman. This traditional definition does not take away the rights of anyone. It does, however, benefit everyone by promoting relationships that have a proven benefit to society because it encourages children and families that can best nurture those children.

Please do not be intimidated by those who protest that, because you support traditional families, your support of Proposition 8 means that you are imposing your morality on them. Every individual is free to make his or her own decisions and will be if Proposition 8 passes. As a society, however, we have the right to encourage behavior that is beneficial to the society as a whole. That is what Proposition 8 does and that is why I support it.

Greg