Should polygamy be a legal form or marriage for Americans who are consenting adults of sound mind?

One might argue that it could be a freedom of religion issue. I'm not sure how I feel about the issue, and I am quite happy with one wife. But what about people who's religion says they can and should have multiple marital partners?

One issue might be economics. I don't think that a person who has many spouses should have any more financial breaks (taxes, insurance, etc) then someone who has only one. In fact, I don't think there should be any financial advantages to any marriage as it descriminates against single people.

But back to the question: should polygamy be legal for people of sound mind and legal age?

SORRY FOR THE TYPO - I meant to say "a legal form OF marriage..."

No, it's immoral. That's why it is illegal and it should stay illegal.

"One might argue that it could be a freedom of religion issue. ..."

Yikes, that sounds uncomfortably uncertain. Either it is a violation of the Free Exercise Clause or it isn't; it can't be a *might be* kind of thing. And the Supreme Court already addressed this over 100 years ago and upheld the polygamy laws. There is still no prospect on the horizon that the Court is going to overturn that precedent.

I'm the opposite of "election 2000" above -- I'm quite authoritarian about this topic and anything related to it.

Any person should be able to have as many spouses as they can support.

If they can support all of their spouses, and all of the children they have with those spouses ... without assistance from the government, why not allow them to marry as often as they want to.

the thing i dont get is why do they have to marry if they werent all married there would b no broken laws as far as the so called family goes ,the minors r a different story

If it ever becomes legal for same sex marriage, then why not polygamy?

Here's my take on polygamy and the whole hypocrisy of the subject.

Let's take religion completely out of it. Let's just assume some people (insert joke here) really want multiple wives or husbands (although technically that would be polyandry).

So, the way it is now, a person cannot legally marry more than one person, correct? That's point 1. So any 'marriage' beyond the first is not a legal marriage.

Now, a person can, in most countries, legally co-habitate with a person with whom they are not married. That's point 2. They can co-habitate with 2, or 3, or 10 if they so choose, and nobody will say boo, because there is no law against it.

So explain to me, please, how it should be illegal for the polygamist to live with his legal wife and another woman, but it is NOT illegal for me to also live with 2 women? Essentially, what we are saying is it's illegal for him to CALL someone his wife, even though nobody outside his own home recognizes it as such?

Am I the only one who sees the illogic of this?

No.US is already multicultural now if polygamy is legalised there will be a race at production of more kids ( rabbit styles)[Any is free to have as many wives( hidden from the world) as he wishes if the existing one consents.]

I'm pretty libertarian on this sort of thing.

No, it shouldn't be legal. I think these women are raised to believe this is a way of life at a very young age and they are not able to think for themselves. I don't believe they are of sound mind because they've been brain washed to go along with this and they fear for their eternal life.

Also, I recently heard that many of these women are viewed as single parents by the state since polygamy is not legal and they receive benefits and welfare. I think it's sickening that tax payers are funding this.