Promoting Marriage By Outlawing Marriage?
Over in the 2nd congressional district of Michigan, candidate Jay Riermersma says that he wants to be elected to the House of Representatives so that he can push for a federal government that’s small in matters of money, but bigger than ever in its role in Americans’ private lives. “We need small government with big ideas.”
One of those big ideas Riermersma wants to bring to the federal government is what he calls “a marriage culture”. He says, “It all begins and ends with the family. The family is the most basic unit of American government; as the family goes, so goes the nation. For the well being of our children, and in light of the innumerable social goods conferred upon society by the married family, I believe government has a compelling interest in promoting a marriage culture.”
If he believes the federal government should be promoting a marriage culture, then Riermersma would favor removing roadblocks that stop people who want to get married from actually being able to tie the knot, right? Wrong. Riermersma actually wants the federal government to work to ensure that large numbers of people are prevented from getting married.
Though Riermersma talks at length about how important he believes marriage is, he nonetheless opposes the recognition of marriage rights for same-sex couples. For some reason, Riermersma wants to deny them the benefits of marriage that he so eagerly would bestow upon other Americans.
That’s not promoting a culture of marriage. It’s promoting a culture of discrimination. It’s politicians like Riermersma that have inspired the bumper sticker that says, Annoy a Republican – Get Married.
