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Should gay marriage be legal in America? | The Economist
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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554562">Barack Obama makes up his mind on gay marriage </a></p><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/obama-endorses">Good for Obama, bad for gay marriage? </a></p><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/same-sex-marriage">Begging the question on marriage equality</a></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/gay-marriage-0">Breaking down the biblical underpinnings of the "pro-marriage" argument</a></p><form action="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/esi/dq/21554666/0" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post" id="decisions-selection-voting-form" class="decisions-selection-voting-form"> <div><div class="decisions_selection_1click"><fieldset><div id="edit-choice-1-wrapper" 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Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers. <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/legal/terms-of-use#usercontent">Review our comments policy</a>.</p> <div class="box"> <div class="content"><form action="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america#comment-form" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post" id="comment-form" class="ajax-form comment-forms"> <div><a name="commentForm"></a> <div class="form-item clearfix" id="edit-comment-wrapper"> <label for="edit-comment"><span class="form-required" title="This field is required.">*</span> Add a comment (up to 5,000 characters):</label> <textarea cols="60" rows="8" name="comment" id="edit-comment" class="form-textarea resizable required"></textarea> </div> <input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" id="form-44c57db2b98b00093c13b0960a8cb013" value="form-44c57db2b98b00093c13b0960a8cb013"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" id="edit-comment-form" value="comment_form"/> <input type="hidden" name="mollom[session_id]" id="edit-mollom-session-id" value="" class="mollom-session-id"/> <div style="display: none;"><div class="form-item clearfix" id="edit-mollom-homepage-wrapper"> <input type="text" maxlength="128" name="mollom[homepage]" id="edit-mollom-homepage" size="60" value="" title="Homepage" autocomplete="off" class="form-text"/> </div> </div><input type="submit" name="op" id="edit-submit" value="Post" class="form-submit ajax-trigger"/> </div></form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sort"><p>Sort:</p><ul class="clearfix" id="sort-comments"><li class="first">Newest first</li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?sort=2#sort-comments" rel="nofollow" class="active">Oldest first</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?sort=3#sort-comments" rel="nofollow" class="active">Readers' most recommended</a></li> </ul></div><div class="pager clearfix"><div class="item-list"><ul class="pager"><li class="pager-current first">1</li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=1#sort-comments" title="Go to page 2" class="active">2</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=2#sort-comments" title="Go to page 3" class="active">3</a></li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=3#sort-comments" title="Go to page 4" class="active">4</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=4#sort-comments" title="Go to page 5" class="active">5</a></li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=5#sort-comments" title="Go to page 6" class="active">6</a></li> <li class="pager-next"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=1#sort-comments" title="Go to next page" class="active">next ›</a></li> <li class="pager-last even last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=5#sort-comments" title="Go to last page" class="active">last »</a></li> </ul></div></div><a name="comments"></a> <article id="comment-1419821" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/beembeem/comments" title="View BeemBeem's profile">BeemBeem</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T16:17:18+00:00">May 16th 2012 16:17 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Gay marriage IS legal everywhere in the U.S. it just isn't legally recognized. Any gay couple can get married and be recognized as "married" by community, religion, family, friends. Just not by the state. Let's use the correct language here...</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419821?token=29adfe57e3cb77bf31c009271bcf4c9a&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Gay marriage IS legal" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419821?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419821" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419821#comment-1419821" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419821" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419821">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419819" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/xwwj8x7bjq/comments" title="View xwWJ8x7BJq's profile">xwWJ8x7BJq</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T16:15:15+00:00">May 16th 2012 16:15 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>It seems to me that there are only two possible oppositions to gay marriage. One is religious, the other call it "social". The first claims that it's an abomination and bases its claim on the Bible. As such it is an act of faith and it thus logically "begs the question". (although this shouldn't even matter as America is not a theocracy like Iran.) </p> <p>The second opposition is social. Under this view gay marriage is a threat to the stability of society as it erodes the concept of the family, which - the argument goes - is at the base of any civilized society. I think this view is correct as far as it goes. Family is clearly the base of any society and this has been demonstrated by many psychologists, political philosophers and social scientists alike. </p> <p>The question, however, is: Is there anyone who has the courage to say that he divorced his wife leaving small kids without a united family, because he saw a gay couple on the street? I mean, can we really make a case that the extremely high levels of divorces is due to the rise in gay couples? seriously ? </p> <p>Contrarily to some arguments in this discussion, family is important and so is marriage for the simple reason that social, economical and psychological progression (especially for kids)necessitates stability. But this should lead us to promote family policies such as cash transfers when kids are born etc etc. LGBT rights have nothing to do with this. Nothing. </p> <p>Thus, it seems to me that unless your opposition is religious (and in that case your opinion - while maybe correct - is unjustifiable by logical standards) there is no good argument to ban gay marriage. Maybe it shouldn't be called "marriage" so as not to offend linguistic purists, but in it's shape and form, gay couples should have the same rights as the rest of us.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419819?token=d0a3769ef5dbb11f0c90143a73f519fe&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: It seems to me that there are" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419819?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419819" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419819#comment-1419819" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419819" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419819">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419804" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/xwwj8x7bjq/comments" title="View xwWJ8x7BJq's profile">xwWJ8x7BJq</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T16:09:50+00:00">May 16th 2012 16:09 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>It seems to me that there are only two possible oppositions to gay marriage. One is religious, the other call it "social". The first claims that it's an abomination and bases its claim on the Bible. As such it is an act of faith and it thus logically "begs the question". (although this shouldn't even matter as America is not a theocracy like Iran.) </p> <p>The second opposition is social. Under this view gay marriage is a threat to the stability of society as it erodes the concept of the family, which - the argument goes - is at the base of any civilized society. I think this view is correct as far as it goes. Family is clearly the base of any society and this has been demonstrated by many psychologists, political philosophers and social scientists alike. </p> <p>The question, however, is: Is there anyone who has the courage to say that he divorced his wife leaving small kids without a united family, because he saw a gay couple on the street? I mean, can we really make a case that the extremely high levels of divorces is due to the rise in gay couples? seriously ? </p> <p>Contrarily to some arguments in this discussion, family is important and so is marriage for the simple reason that social, economical and psychological progression (especially for kids)necessitates stability. But this should lead us to promote family policies such as cash transfers when kids are born etc etc. LGBT rights have nothing to do with this. Nothing. </p> <p>Thus, it seems to me that unless your opposition is religious (and in that case your opinion - while maybe correct - is unjustifiable by logical standards) there is no good argument to ban gay marriage. Maybe it shouldn't be called "marriage" so as not to offend linguistic purists, but in it's shape and form, gay couples should have the same rights as the rest of us.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419804?token=b95f33a6c3b8d19474c62b0c4117d840&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: It seems to me that there are" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419804?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419804" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419804#comment-1419804" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419804" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419804">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419632" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/paulo88/comments" title="View Paulo88's profile">Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T14:43:15+00:00">May 16th 2012 14:43 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>I just have a mathematical remark:<br/> If we assume mariage is the formation of a stable couple between 2 persons that agree to stay together for the rest of their life then gay mariage makes no sense.<br/> I will not give here a complete proof, but it can be found in any Algorithm (or graph theory) book that covers the problem of complete match in graph theory. </p> <p>In brief: If we have a set of person divided into 2 categories, l;et us say category A and B (such as man and women), and 1 person in A can only associate with someone in B, then it is possible to create a complete and stable match<br/> Definition of a complete stable match: a match where everyone is matched with the available person they prefer (complete). Furthermore, there are no 2 coples that would be ready to exchange(stable). </p> <p>It is easely proven that it is impossible to obtain a complete match if the set of all people is not divided into 2 categories (in technical terms: the graph is not bipartide). </p> <p>This said, gay mariages removes the constrain of man only being able to mary women, and vice versa. Thus making it theoretically impossible to get a complete stable match with a given group of people. </p> <p>Appart from that, i believe one should start asking the question: Should we really keep a notion so antiquated as mariage? A notion that was introduced simply by men, roughly 10 000 years ago to (try, as much as possible) to guarantee that the children they were nurturing were really theirs?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419632?token=4bd1c8fda919f8bf760799cd28090e94&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: I just have a mathematical" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419632?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419632" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419632#comment-1419632" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419632" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419632">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419677" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/4449712/comments" title="View YdCeu9PPMt's profile">YdCeu9PPMt</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419632#comment-1419632" class="reply-to">in reply to Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T15:10:24+00:00">May 16th 2012 15:10 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>no doubt you have an unequivocal ability to take a long time to say nothing. howbeit, if a man marries a man and a woman marries a woman--the algorithmic conundrum at hand is resolved, no?</p> <p>but really, you're going to deny people their happiness because you have a god damn "mathematical remark"?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419677?token=f3fc154b55ca7e3f1ecd0ae8b750de22&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: no doubt you have an" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419677?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419677" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419677#comment-1419677" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419677" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419677">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419721" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/paulo88/comments" title="View Paulo88's profile">Paulo88</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419677#comment-1419677" class="reply-to">in reply to YdCeu9PPMt</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T15:30:07+00:00">May 16th 2012 15:30 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>To the first point you raise: If a man maries a man, this does not create a bipartide graph, since ANY man can mary ANY man. Whereas the stability of the system comes from the fact that someone from a given sex can only mary someone of ANOTHER sex. </p> <p>As to the second point, this is exactly why I make my concluding remark: Why is it that mariage was introduced? Where does it come from in our civilisation (or all civilisation, as it seems as soon as there is property, there is mariage)? Do we really still need it? </p> <p>My view is that the notion of mariage needs a strong revision, or abolition. If mariage is a Lifelong union between 2 people (as the church requires) then we better abolish divorce (or mariage, in this case the algorithmic argument still holds agains gay mariage). </p> <p>If mariage is the formation of a stable union between a man and a women to guarantee the well-being of their children, then gay mariage makes no sense. </p> <p>If it is just an economic agreement between 2 people, then indeed gay mariage makes perfect sense, but has little to do with love (which would most likely not be a bad idea to distinguish between economic unions and emotional ones).</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419721?token=9a21fbbfc0b1248fae88b37d42b93294&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: To the first point you raise:" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419721?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419721" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419721#comment-1419721" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419721" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419721">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419762" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/norbert464/comments" title="View Norbert464's profile">Norbert464</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419632#comment-1419632" class="reply-to">in reply to Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T15:49:44+00:00">May 16th 2012 15:49 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>That was not mathematical, it was just a remarkably long-winded way of saying: If we define marriage as between a man and woman, same-sex marriage falls outside of that definition. And if there were more straight women than straight men, there wouldn't be enough men to go round.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419762?token=2270815acd97275d0d74c8bfdc5d1f82&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: That was not mathematical, it" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419762?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419762" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419762#comment-1419762" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419762" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419762">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419794" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/ahandsomemind/comments" title="View ahandsomemind's profile">ahandsomemind</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419721#comment-1419721" class="reply-to">in reply to Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T16:05:13+00:00">May 16th 2012 16:05 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>You mathematical explanation is boring! unless you are from Big Bang Theory :p and most gay men/women may not understand mathematics and algorithmic arguments :-)<br/> Are all marriages between man and women are emotional? A union between a man and a women necessarily need not guarantee well-being of their children.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419794?token=33c0686a42e029e3e34279781be3cab9&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: You mathematical explanation" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419794?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419794" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419794#comment-1419794" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419794" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419794">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419820" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/sdb1985/comments" title="View sdb1985's profile">sdb1985</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419632#comment-1419632" class="reply-to">in reply to Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T16:16:13+00:00">May 16th 2012 16:16 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Why are you assuming you cant have a stable and complete match if its not two cateogries. Maybe you think gay women are a myth?</p> <p>If there are 10 men and 10 women, and 8 of each group are straight and 2 of each group gay, you can have a match that is just as complete and just as stable</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419820?token=8a31013d4b0c14b37dd40b1320946fe2&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Why are you assuming you cant" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419820?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419820" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419820#comment-1419820" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419820" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419820">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419566" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/guest-wnmsijj/comments" title="View guest-wnmsijj's profile">guest-wnmsijj</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T13:36:08+00:00">May 16th 2012 13:36 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Marriage is a sacrament and a relationship defined in the Bible. The State has no business changing this definition that is the inspired word of God. If a community relationship does need to be identified by the State whether male-female, male-male, female-female, male-female-male,... whether of a sexual nature or not (why can't an elderly parent be added to a couples current status)in order to create "shared property" and rights is necessary. The convenant of marridge is older and has been defined for over 3200 years before any of the world's "present" governments have decided to apply their interpretation. Leave it alone. Opening this door to change is opening pandora's box. If this is authorized why not polygamy? One could argue at least this sexual pairing, perverse as well, creates offspring. Why should they be discriminated against.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419566?token=0570dc83384f58c539bd491275aa27e0&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Marriage is a sacrament and a" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419566?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419566" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419566#comment-1419566" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419566" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419566">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419599" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/smer-tass/comments" title="View Smer Tass's profile">Smer Tass</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419566#comment-1419566" class="reply-to">in reply to guest-wnmsijj</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T14:19:38+00:00">May 16th 2012 14:19 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>First, marriage wasn't a sacrament until it was declared as such by the Catholic Church in the 8th century. Prior to this, it was a civil institution. Interestingly, same-sex marriage was accepted prior to the Church's prohibition of it. Hence, if the institution was static and unchanging, same-sex marriage never would have been banned to begin with. Seems you're being selective about just when this ancient institution became rightfully unchanging. Mind you, the advent of romantic love as the key reason to marry did away with the polygamy that the church proclaimed illegitimate but did little to enforce -- particularly among the least educated of the Holy Roman Empire.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419599?token=7bacafe5dee9617c963c20791fa911ac&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: First, marriage wasn't a" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419599?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419599" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419599#comment-1419599" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419599" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419599">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419605" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/4553042/comments" title="View kKC7GzH8VY's profile">kKC7GzH8VY</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419566#comment-1419566" class="reply-to">in reply to guest-wnmsijj</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T14:26:52+00:00">May 16th 2012 14:26 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Ours is not a theocracy, where religion provides the justification for civil laws. I suggest you take that argument where it is more likely to hold water, like Iran.<br/> And why not polygamy? If you are attempting to defend traditional marriage on the merits that it is "3200" years old and sanctioned by history, then certainly you should hold the same regard for polygamy. which is far older than any definition of traditional marriage, I guarantee you.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419605?token=2e04a9fd87c3b7d01511bb27a480923c&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Ours is not a theocracy," class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>5</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419605?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419605" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419605#comment-1419605" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419605" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419605">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419640" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/paulo88/comments" title="View Paulo88's profile">Paulo88</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419599#comment-1419599" class="reply-to">in reply to Smer Tass</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T14:47:33+00:00">May 16th 2012 14:47 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>I would just be curious to know which civilisation permitted same sex mariage?<br/> The ancient Greeks and Romand certainly did not (although gay relationship were very common and totally accepted). </p> <p>Since mariage is so old, could we not start arguing if we should not simply forego such antiquated traditions? Like we did with death penalty (at least in the civilized world), Nobility or Tirrany (in the sense of absolute power concentrated in one individual)?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419640?token=c3861c560fddf73bcc890b300c282c79&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: I would just be curious to" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419640?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419640" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419640#comment-1419640" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419640" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419640">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419642" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/mark-zero/comments" title="View mark zero's profile">mark zero</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419566#comment-1419566" class="reply-to">in reply to guest-wnmsijj</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T14:47:48+00:00">May 16th 2012 14:47 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Some Christian sects and some other religions recognize same-sex marriage or unions. So do many atheists, of course. So are you saying all people, no matter their faith, must abide by *your* belief system?<br/> We don't all believe in the little book you're using to excuse your hatred; give us a reason based on logic.</p> <p>As far as government recognition, why should the government recognize the rights of heterosexuals, but deny them to others? Doesn't that make the rest second class?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419642?token=9cd0091f0cad402adb8e7dd8c5dec768&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Some Christian sects and some" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>2</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419642?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419642" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419642#comment-1419642" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419642" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419642">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419747" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/smer-tass/comments" title="View Smer Tass's profile">Smer Tass</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419640#comment-1419640" class="reply-to">in reply to Paulo88</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T15:42:50+00:00">May 16th 2012 15:42 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Good questions and good points. The word "marriage" does cause us some difficulty. In ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece there were many levels of what we'd call today "marriage" or "civil unions" based on class, title, property concerns, etc. But there wasn't a distinction between the terms "marriage" and "union" that we argue about today. They effectively meant the same thing. In Rome, same-sex marriage did exist (even partaken by political leaders up to the seat of emperor) until it was explicitly prohibited by the Theodosian Code of 342 AD. Marriage didn't become a sacrament for several centuries after that.</p> <p>As for forgoing the institution altogether, that leads to several other questions and concerns. Since voluntary unions of all kinds -- business or personal -- can be subject to voluntary contractual arrangements (in the case of marriage, the usefulness here relates to child custody and property titles), I find it hard to justify denying any persons the right to contract. But your point is well-taken, and it may be reasonable.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419747?token=550f5e25bed373bb46847d4df68ef8dc&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Good questions and good" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419747?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419747" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419747#comment-1419747" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419747" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419747">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419514" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/xwwj8x7bjq/comments" title="View xwWJ8x7BJq's profile">xwWJ8x7BJq</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T12:53:42+00:00">May 16th 2012 12:53 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>I have a question for you guys. The debate in the US is about substance or form ? Let me expand. In Italy, gay couples cannot inherit, visit each other at the hospital etc etc and thus rightly demand for their union to be authorized by the law. What I don't understand about this debate is whether the discussion is actually on the word "marriage" or on the legal "substance" that comes with it. For if the discussion is merely on the word and not on the actual substance, isn't it a bit pointless?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419514?token=2d79426e0c703d8da7c8aaaf82de3cac&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: I have a question for you" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419514?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419514" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419514#comment-1419514" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419514" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419514">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419660" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/mark-zero/comments" title="View mark zero's profile">mark zero</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419514#comment-1419514" class="reply-to">in reply to xwWJ8x7BJq</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T15:02:28+00:00">May 16th 2012 15:02 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Some states allow "civil unions," but they've been a mixed bag of rights. Partners can inherit from spouses in some states, but not all; likewise some get visitation rights in the hospital, co-guardianship of children in the relationship, etc. This gets really difficult to manage, for example, if you get a "civil union" in one state that allows full parity, but your spouse falls ill on a trip to a state where they don't recognize the same rights. Not to mention, straight civil unions may be granted a different set of rights in some states from that of LGBT civil unions.</p> <p>Because of all the confusion, these separate civil unions, as legal entities, can never be equal to the term "marriage," which is something instantly recognizable and recognized as having the same rights across all state boundaries.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419660?token=d5f9029d6244f1f41aa4244a04675355&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Some states allow "civil" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>2</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419660?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419660" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419660#comment-1419660" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419660" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419660">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419419" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/13directors/comments" title="View 13Directors's profile">13Directors</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T11:24:53+00:00">May 16th 2012 11:24 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Yes, homosexuality is still taboo to many people. Just as marrying a non-virgin or your slave once was. My point is incest is a taboo everywhere and rightfully so. It damages the family social structure by creating a competitive environment between mother and daughter and father and son. Hence the family breaks down producing chaos in society. This is why every culture inherently rejects the notion. And yes, families break down under other circumstance, but this is mostly from the negative impact of industrialization.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419419?token=591d4c4b0723ebb93edc9b00313cab94&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Yes, homosexuality is still" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419419?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419419" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419419#comment-1419419" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419419" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419419">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419478" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/wytworm/comments" title="View wytworm's profile">wytworm</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419419#comment-1419419" class="reply-to">in reply to 13Directors</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T12:12:09+00:00">May 16th 2012 12:12 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Incest is most likely taboo, according to study, based on reverse sexual imprinting that occurs for an individual when considering any person he or she was raised with. The thought is this trait evolved to avoid the negative impact of inbreeding. When siblings meet for the first time as adults, the imprinting is not there and sexual attraction can result. Another study has shown that children raised together who are not siblings do exhibit the same sexual aversion due to the reverse imprinting the same as if they were actually siblings. The period of time that this occurs appears to be up until the age of 6.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419478?token=81eb2230da7c9059b388cf44ef868b82&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Incest is most likely taboo," class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419478?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419478" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419478#comment-1419478" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419478" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419478">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419334" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/4346791/comments" title="View K9VQDGmKRk's profile">K9VQDGmKRk</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T09:42:36+00:00">May 16th 2012 9:42 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>I hope that one day I can marry the man I love in my home country of the USA without having to specifically relocate to states which allow it. When I think back to growing up in traditional American suburbs I remember how much joy being married and starting a family brought to the people who were bonded for life. I cannot understand how someone could ever be so cruel as to actively want to prevent me from that. Straight couples would be outraged at requiring to ask permission from their country to allow them to get married.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419334?token=fb8f507207bfdf52560f52d104248df0&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: I hope that one day I can" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>6</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419334?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419334" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419334#comment-1419334" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419334" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419334">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419287" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/3757321/comments" title="View PaxIndica's profile">PaxIndica</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T08:42:50+00:00">May 16th 2012 8:42 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>The readership of the Economist is the liberal 1%. The results of this vote are a surprise only in so much that there are actually some people who frequent this website who are against gay marriage.</p> <p>If you held a poll asking Indians who visit this website if free markets are better than indian 'socialism', I bet over 80% would agree. But ask the same question to the indian public which actually stands under the hot sun in lines to vote and you are likely to get a very different answer.</p> <p>A majority of young people in America might be ok with gay marriage, but they don't vote much. The oldies vote everywhere and Granpa will roll around in his wheelchair, spending his retirement writing letters to congressmen and senators re-iterating the 'moral' foundation of marriage in America, the land of the 'free'.</p> <p>Sounds like a 30 year wait at least to me.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419287?token=f86441848c2169349ea78752f65252b8&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: The readership of the" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419287?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419287" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419287#comment-1419287" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419287" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419287">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419289" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/3757321/comments" title="View PaxIndica's profile">PaxIndica</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419287#comment-1419287" class="reply-to">in reply to PaxIndica</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T08:44:14+00:00">May 16th 2012 8:44 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>By the way I voted, even though I'm not American.</p> <p>I voted Yes, of course.</p> <p>I'd vote Yes a few more times if I could and if it'd help the cause.</p> <p>That's voting, Indian style folks.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419289?token=c217a7945ac1ed6650eeabf4e2de7652&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: By the way I voted, even" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>3</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419289?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419289" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419289#comment-1419289" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419289" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419289">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419481" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/wytworm/comments" title="View wytworm's profile">wytworm</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419287#comment-1419287" class="reply-to">in reply to PaxIndica</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T12:16:50+00:00">May 16th 2012 12:16 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Its a problem with any polling, but as long as you go into it with eyes open I don't think its as much of a problem as relying on nothing and guessing. </p> <p>An interesting fact is that the majority of studies that form the basis for health and psychological consensus are challenged similarly as they rely on subjects who volunteer at universities, which are very skewed demographically.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419481?token=a536c00a9ef6ba8423bba0b284f15ad9&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Its a problem with any" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419481?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419481" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419481#comment-1419481" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419481" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419481">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419243" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/user/2989403/comments" title="View HighComissionerForJustice's profile">HighComissionerForJustice</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T07:26:58+00:00">May 16th 2012 7:26 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>The government has no business in regulating gay marriage or any other type of marriage for that sake. If gays want to marry they should just do it and don't ask for permission. Plenty of churches marry gays.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419243?token=7d17f8946d60200ff85d14c21d130fa8&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: The government has no" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419243?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419243" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419243#comment-1419243" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419243" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419243">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419427" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/13directors/comments" title="View 13Directors's profile">13Directors</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419243#comment-1419243" class="reply-to">in reply to HighComissionerForJustice</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T11:31:09+00:00">May 16th 2012 11:31 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>But under the law their marriage is not recognized and there is much more to marriage than cohabitation. Take for example laws of inheritance. If wife or husband leaves their spouse an inheritance, it is not taxed, but if a gay partner leaves an inheritance to their partner, it is taxed accordingly. There are many tax benefits that we heterosexuals take for granted.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419427?token=a1412839f6c86f387fd84ce528196ac2&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: But under the law their" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>2</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419427?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419427" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419427#comment-1419427" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419427" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419427">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1419233" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/jane-isabel/comments" title="View jane isabel's profile">jane isabel</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T07:16:57+00:00">May 16th 2012 7:16 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>gay marriages and polygamy are alike as they r the forms of relationship that some part of the world does not except the other. both marriages or any other type of marriages happen frequently all over the world and this is no reason to see them legal. it is not the logic of lawmaking.if u're fine with the first one why against marriages involving five people or ten or whatever? who says that marriages has to happen between 2 people or two gender. when u become that liberal, i'll be on your side.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419233?token=58c22bc0f49b66546ffee2b8d8951117&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: gay marriages and polygamy" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>1</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419233?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419233" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419233#comment-1419233" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419233" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419233">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1418986" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/13directors/comments" title="View 13Directors's profile">13Directors</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T02:19:22+00:00">May 16th 2012 2:19 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Of course it should be. And please don't satirically ask if incest is next. Incest is taboo in every culture because it damages the social structure within the family. Homosexuality does not.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418986?token=d65d29b0516b265c2339caabf1b62301&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Of course it should be. And" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418986?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418986" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418986#comment-1418986" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418986" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418986">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419210" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/kerthialfad/comments" title="View Kerthialfad's profile">Kerthialfad</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418986#comment-1418986" class="reply-to">in reply to 13Directors</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T06:57:45+00:00">May 16th 2012 6:57 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>And homosexuality is not a taboo? I always thought it was.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419210?token=5417cb3823f65dcffe3f13a1e533ecc0&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: And homosexuality is not a" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419210?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419210" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419210#comment-1419210" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419210" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419210">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419249" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/kyle-butler/comments" title="View Kyle Butler's profile">Kyle Butler</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418986#comment-1418986" class="reply-to">in reply to 13Directors</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T07:39:04+00:00">May 16th 2012 7:39 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Yeah sure, in Ancient Egypt, brothers did not used to marry their sisters (we know that because the word for "sister" and "wife" is the same if you ask).<br/> Or may be Ancient Egypt was not a culture...</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a 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data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419249">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1418965" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/kkatriina/comments" title="View kkatriina's profile">kkatriina</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T01:53:29+00:00">May 16th 2012 1:53 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Gay marriage should be legal everywhere, not only America.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418965?token=71107856f87576009657357770e79ecb&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Gay marriage should be legal" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>7</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a 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title="2012-05-16T01:03:26+00:00">May 16th 2012 1:03 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>I suppose it was too much to hope for a "indifferent" button.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418915?token=1ffcfc3ab2e9ef42d0bbed07926be9f1&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: I suppose it was too much to" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418915?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418915" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a 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<footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418937?token=c011c9bc25a4dd0a9b2bc36a1ebf4aa6&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: indifference to bigotry is" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>12</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418937?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418937" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418937#comment-1418937" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a 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There are over 1600 different laws associated with marriage - most of them designed to protect the best interests of children in a marriage. There are over 2 million children being raised in households headed by gay couples in the USA. Tell me, why are those kids underserving of the protections and privileges of family law? Why are those protections any less important for my children then they are for your children? Are your children some how more special than mine?</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418882?token=2a4505aa804587daa45b578206b5a3d3&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: For those of you who oppose" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>9</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418882?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418882" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418882#comment-1418882" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418882" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418882">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1418834" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/jesse-m-danielson/comments" title="View Jesse M. Danielson's profile">Jesse M. Danielson</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T00:16:58+00:00">May 16th 2012 0:16 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Better question is, why the hell should that even be a legitimate question to ask in our society in the first place! I shouldn't have to beg America and grovel at it's feet until it deigns to allow me to be the same as everyone else. The very fact that this is even a question that has to be asked is a condemnation of all American claims to an egalitarian society.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418834?token=6130a21943e7300520e4bd5415e02477&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Better question is, why the" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418834?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418834" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418834#comment-1418834" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418834" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418834">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1419483" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/wytworm/comments" title="View wytworm's profile">wytworm</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418834#comment-1418834" class="reply-to">in reply to Jesse M. Danielson</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T12:19:48+00:00">May 16th 2012 12:19 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Society is not static, the constitution is mutable. It would be a dangerous conceit to ever think what we think we have right now is right for everyone and would be right for everyone tomorrow. </p> <p>Jefferson thought the constitution should be thrown out every generation and rewritten for this reason.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419483?token=29784eeacee2b01a488d85cb29736eb5&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Society is not static, the" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419483?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419483" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419483#comment-1419483" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419483" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419483">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1418826" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/recoveryless-recovery/comments" title="View Recoveryless Recovery's profile">Recoveryless Recovery</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T00:07:12+00:00">May 16th 2012 0:07 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>"Should gay marriage be legal in America?"</p> <p>Heck, why NOT?</p> <p>After all, we've already legalized FRAUD, WAR CRIMES, TORTURE, GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ASSASSINATIONS, WIRE-TAPPING, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, WAGING FOREIGN WARS OF AGGRESSION, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE, EMBEZZLEMENT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS, RAPE and MAYHEM ..amongst several dozen OTHER atrocities.</p> <p>So go ahead and legalize gay marriage, but be it with THIS caveat; what will the U.S. government do when its citizens start claiming the right to marry their PETS? Because at the rate this country is SINKING, I can almost see that one coming round the bend!</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418826?token=09f8d7c6cf9145dc8f3979d134eb7491&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: "Should gay marriage be legal" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418826?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418826" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418826#comment-1418826" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418826" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418826">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1418850" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/eric-steidinger/comments" title="View Eric Steidinger's profile">Eric Steidinger</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418826#comment-1418826" class="reply-to">in reply to Recoveryless Recovery</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T00:27:02+00:00">May 16th 2012 0:27 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Again, someone with no argument. What do any of those things have to do with my husband and child? My family? Your bigotry is showing.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418850?token=4b4c84016832414ab8158e7bd72d3124&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Again, someone with no" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>5</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418850?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418850" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418850#comment-1418850" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418850" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418850">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1418902" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/smer-tass/comments" title="View Smer Tass's profile">Smer Tass</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418826#comment-1418826" class="reply-to">in reply to Recoveryless Recovery</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T00:56:19+00:00">May 16th 2012 0:56 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>At least make an effort to read other comments where this silly "pet" premise is summarily shot down before you waste your time.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418902?token=6199fd54e8829b62887bcf12346cf7eb&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: At least make an effort to" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418902?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418902" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418902#comment-1418902" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418902" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418902">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1418447" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/gp-007/comments" title="View GP-007's profile">GP-007</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-15T19:47:19+00:00">May 15th 2012 19:47 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Aren't all marriages "same sex" marriages? It's the same sex, over and over again.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418447?token=65c2f6f3d335c4646446900c30f378d7&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Aren't all marriages "same" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>21</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418447?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418447" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418447#comment-1418447" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418447" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418447">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> <section class="indented"> <article id="comment-1418828" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/recoveryless-recovery/comments" title="View Recoveryless Recovery's profile">Recoveryless Recovery</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418447#comment-1418447" class="reply-to">in reply to GP-007</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T00:08:47+00:00">May 16th 2012 0:08 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Lol. The Economist finally gets its own stand-up comedian! :-)</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418828?token=6b3858d7abfebb11da7af3879497f52d&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Lol. The Economist finally" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>4</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418828?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418828" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418828#comment-1418828" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418828" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418828">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419043" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/gp-007/comments" title="View GP-007's profile">GP-007</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418828#comment-1418828" class="reply-to">in reply to Recoveryless Recovery</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T03:06:54+00:00">May 16th 2012 3:06 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Thanks, I'm here all week. Enjoy the pot-roast.</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419043?token=616523f193c1999c7c793f459ecff610&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Thanks, I'm here all week." class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>7</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419043?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419043" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419043#comment-1419043" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419043" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419043">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1419484" class="single-comment deep-reply"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/wytworm/comments" title="View wytworm's profile">wytworm</a> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418447#comment-1418447" class="reply-to">in reply to GP-007</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-16T12:20:44+00:00">May 16th 2012 12:20 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Speak for yourself ;-)</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1419484?token=5373b57d1969d2baf44b74515a653808&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Speak for yourself ;-)" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>0</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419484?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1419484" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1419484#comment-1419484" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1419484" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1419484">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> </section> </article> <article id="comment-1418210" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/guayaquil/comments" title="View guayaquil's profile">guayaquil</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-15T17:58:22+00:00">May 15th 2012 17:58 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>somebody can explain me the fixation of major religions with sex? I would like to hear religious leaders talking about lack of justice, starving children, et c. More Humanity please</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1418210?token=5baa94dc8afa7b4ba5b96e1af7ffa057&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: somebody can explain me the" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>19</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418210?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1418210" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1418210#comment-1418210" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1418210" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1418210">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <article id="comment-1417997" class="single-comment"> <header> <div> <a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/users/sharpsburg/comments" title="View Sharpsburg's profile">Sharpsburg</a> <time class="created" title="2012-05-15T15:26:30+00:00">May 15th 2012 15:26 GMT</time> </div> </header> <div class="comment-body"><p>Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage, ask the local gentry, they will tell you it's elementary!</p> </div> <footer class="clearfix"> <ul class="links"><li class="comment_recommend first"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/vote/recommend-comment/1417997?token=e81faeb9193913f58c0f1da7d0d5b9ab&nid=21554666&page=0&sort=0" title="Recommend comment: Love and marriage, love and" class="recommend" data-ec-omniture="recommend_comment" rel="nofollow">Recommend</a> <div><span>10</span></div></li> <li class="comment_report_abuse"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1417997?destination=node%2F21554666" title="Report this comment to our moderators" class="report-anchor secondary-action" data-form-ajax="/ajax/report-abuse/comment/21554666/1417997" rel="nofollow">Report</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/1417997#comment-1417997" title="Permanent link to this comment" rel="nofollow" class=" secondary-action">Permalink</a></li> <li class="comment_reply last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/comment/reply/21554666/1417997" data-form-ajax="/ajax/comment/reply/21554666/1417997">reply</a></li> </ul> </footer> </article> <div class="pager clearfix"><div class="item-list"><ul class="pager"><li class="pager-current first">1</li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=1#sort-comments" title="Go to page 2" class="active">2</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=2#sort-comments" title="Go to page 3" class="active">3</a></li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=3#sort-comments" title="Go to page 4" class="active">4</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=4#sort-comments" title="Go to page 5" class="active">5</a></li> <li class="pager-item even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=5#sort-comments" title="Go to page 6" class="active">6</a></li> <li class="pager-next"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=1#sort-comments" title="Go to next page" class="active">next ›</a></li> <li class="pager-last even last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america?page=5#sort-comments" title="Go to last page" class="active">last »</a></li> </ul></div></div> </section> </div> <!-- /#column-content --> <div id="column-right" class="grid-6 clearfix"> <div id="block-ec_ads-easks_logo1" class="block block-ec_ads"> <div class="content clearfix"> <div class="sponsor-ad-wrapper sponsor-easks_logo1 ec-ads-remove-if-empty"> <div class="sponsor-byline">Sponsored by</div> <div class="sponsor-ad"><!-- Site: Web. 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News is to be construed broadly; politics, finance, geography, language, fine art—all are fair game, in no particular order. We chose the name, which means "things gathered up" or "literary fragments" (and alludes to the title of a Confucian classic), to that end.">Analects<span class="description"> | China</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview" title="In this blog, our correspondents provide reporting, analysis and opinion on politics, economics, society and culture in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada.">Americas view<span class="description"> | The Americas</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage" title="In this blog, our correspondents report on the intersections between science, technology, culture and policy. The blog takes its name from Charles Babbage, a Victorian mathematician and engineer who designed a mechanical computer.">Babbage<span class="description"> | Science and technology</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot" title="In this blog, our Bagehot columnist surveys the politics of Britain, British life and Britain's place in the world. The column and blog are named after Walter Bagehot, an English journalist who was the editor of The Economist from 1861 to 1877">Bagehot's notebook<span class="description"> | British politics</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan" title="In this blog, our Asia correspondents and our Banyan columnist provide comment and analysis on Asia's political and cultural landscape. The blog takes its name from the Banyan tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment and Gujarati merchants used to conduct business.">Banyan<span class="description"> | Asia</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab" title="On this blog our correspondents delve into the politics, economics and culture of the continent of Africa, from Cairo to the Cape. The blog takes its name from the baobab, a massive tree that grows throughout much of Africa. It stores water, provides food and is often called the tree of life.">Baobab<span class="description"> | Africa</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty" title="On this blog, our correspondents ponder political, cultural, business and scientific developments in Britain, the spiritual and geographical home of The Economist. It takes its name from a fond but faintly derogatory name for the mother country often used among British expats.">Blighty<span class="description"> | Britain</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/buttonwood" title="In this blog, our Buttonwood columnist grapples with the ever-changing financial markets and the motley crew who earn their living by attempting to master them. The blog is named after the 1792 agreement that regulated the informal brokerage conducted under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street.">Buttonwood's notebook<span class="description"> | Financial markets</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne" title="In this blog, our Charlemagne columnist considers the ideas and events that shape Europe, while dealing with the quirks of life in the Euro-bubble. An archive of print columns can be found here.">Charlemagne's notebook<span class="description"> | European politics</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/clausewitz" title="In this blog, our correspondents provide reporting and analysis on the subjects of defence, security and diplomacy, covering weapons and warfare, spooks and cyber-attacks, diplomats and dead-drops. The blog is named after Carl von Clausewitz, the Prussian soldier and military theorist whose classic work, "On War", is still widely studied today.">Clausewitz<span class="description"> | Defence, security and diplomacy</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica" title="In this blog, our correspondents share their thoughts and opinions on America's kinetic brand of politics and the policy it produces. The blog is named after the study of American politics and society written by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political scientist, in the 1830s">Democracy in America<span class="description"> | American politics</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches" title="Eastern approaches deals with the economic, political, security and cultural aspects of the eastern half of the European continent. It incorporates the long-running "Europe.view" weekly column. The blog is named after the wartime memoirs of the British soldier Sir Fitzroy Maclean.">Eastern approaches<span class="description"> | Ex-communist Europe</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/elysee" title="In this blog our Paris bureau chief reports and comments on the race for the French presidency. The blog is named after the official residence of the French president, an 18th-century palace in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Our election coverage is collected here.">Elysée<span class="description"> | France’s presidential election</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange" title="In this blog, our correspondents consider the fluctuations in the world economy and the policies intended to produce more booms than busts. Adam Smith argued that in a free exchange both parties benefit, and this blog's aim is to encourage a free exchange of views on economic matters. ">Free exchange<span class="description"> | Economics</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory" title="On this blog, our correspondents analyse and report on sports minor and major, addressing the politics, economics, science and statistics of the games we play and watch. Send story ideas to gametheory@economist.com">Game theory<span class="description"> | Sports</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail" title="On this blog we publish a new chart or map every working day, highlight our interactive-data features and provide links to interesting sources of data around the web. The Big Mac index, house-price index and other regular features can be found on our Markets &amp; data page">Graphic detail<span class="description"> | Charts, maps and infographics</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver" title="In this blog, our correspondents inform and entertain business travellers with news, views and reviews that help them make the most of life on the road. Sign up for our weekly "Gulliver's best" newsletter to have the blog's highlights delivered to your inbox &raquo;">Gulliver<span class="description"> | Business travel</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson" title="In this blog, named after the dictionary-maker Samuel Johnson, our correspondents write about the effects that the use (and sometimes abuse) of language have on politics, society and culture around the world ">Johnson<span class="description"> | Language</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/leviathan" title="In this blog, our public policy editor reports on how governments in Britain and beyond are rethinking and reforming the state's role in public services, the arts and life in general. The blog takes its name from Thomas Hobbes's book of 1651, which remains one of the most influential examinations of the relationship between government and society. ">Leviathan<span class="description"> | Public policy</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/lexington" title="In this blog, our Lexington columnist enters America’s political fray and shares the many opinions that don't make it into his column each week. The column and blog are named after Lexington, Massachusetts, where the first shots were fired in the American war of independence.">Lexington's notebook<span class="description"> | American politics</span></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook" title="In this blog, our correspondents respond to breaking news stories and provide comment and analysis. The blog takes its name from newsbooks, the 16th- and 17th-century precursors to newspapers, which covered battles, disasters, debates and sensational trials">Newsbook<span class="description"> | News analysis</span></a></li> <li class="even"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero" title="Named after the hero of Shakespeare's "The Tempest", an expert on the power of books and the arts, this blog features literary insight and cultural commentary from our correspondents, and includes our coverage of the art market. ">Prospero<span class="description"> | Books, arts and culture</span></a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter" title="In this blog, our Schumpeter columnist and his colleagues provide commentary and analysis on the topics of business, finance and management. The blog takes its name from Joseph Schumpeter, an Austrian-American economist who likened capitalism to a "perennial gale of creative destruction"">Schumpeter<span class="description"> | Business and management</span></a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div><div id="block-ec_mostx-mostpopular" class="block block-ec_mostx"> <div class="content clearfix"> <div id="most-lists" class="block"> <div id="block-tabs"> <div id="commented" class="tab active hidden">Most commented</div> <div class="tab spacer spacer-small"></div> <div id="recommended" class="tab hidden">Most recommended</div> <div class="tab spacer"></div> </div> <div class="list-wrapper"> <h3>Most commented</h3> <ol id="commented-list" class="show"> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/gay-marriage-0" id="track-commented-21554474">Gay marriage: North Carolina begs the question too</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554530" id="track-commented-21554530">The euro crisis: Europe’s Achilles heel</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554561" id="track-commented-21554561">Suppressing dissent: The emperor does know</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/economist-asks/should-gay-marriage-be-legal-america" id="track-commented-21554666">Should gay marriage be legal in America?</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2012/05/euro-crisis-0" id="track-commented-21555445">The euro in crisis: Groping towards Grexit</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554562" id="track-commented-21554562">Gay marriage: Punctuated equilibrium</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554525" id="track-commented-21554525">Israeli politics: Can Binyamin Netanyahu do a somersault?</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/obama-endorses" id="track-commented-21554507">Obama endorses: Good for Obama, bad for gay marriage</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/renouncing-citizenship" id="track-commented-21555443">Renouncing citizenship: Did Eduardo Saverin do anything wrong?</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2012/05/euro-zone-contagion" id="track-commented-21554705">Euro-zone contagion: If Greece goes...</a></li> </ol> <p id="commented-list-period">Over the past five days</p> <h3>Most recommended</h3> <ol id="recommended-list"> <li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554530" id="track-recommended-21554530">The euro crisis: Europe’s Achilles heel</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/gay-marriage-0" id="track-recommended-21554474">Gay marriage: North Carolina begs the question too</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/lexington/2012/05/lexington" id="track-recommended-21554795">Lexington: Peter David</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2012/05/obama-endorses" id="track-recommended-21554507">Obama endorses: Good for Obama, bad for gay marriage</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/05/future-customer-support" id="track-recommended-21554524">The future of customer support: Outsourcing is so last year</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2012/05/euro-zone-contagion" id="track-recommended-21554705">Euro-zone contagion: If Greece goes...</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/node/21554561" id="track-recommended-21554561">Suppressing dissent: The emperor does know</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2012/05/spurious-statistics" id="track-recommended-21554484">Spurious statistics: In praise of North Korea and Uzbekistan</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/05/daily-chart-5" id="track-recommended-21554449">Daily chart: How America really chooses its president</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120516192925/http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/05/jp-morgan%E2%80%99s-trading-mistakes" id="track-recommended-21554801">J.P. 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