[Hurricane Bruiser]

I wouldn't say that a ban on gay marriage was a defeat of Libertarianism. Many libertarians (at least myself), believe partial birth abortion is wrong because a baby has rights. I would say that gay marriage is just as well defeated since it opposes one of the cultural norms that is set in concrete and defined by civiliations throughout the centuries. Now if there was a ban on 7 people living together, that would be stupid.

I hope Bush will actually CUT government.

[SBOinTX]

> I hope Bush will actually CUT government

Never gonna happen. Both sides want big gov't right now. The left for social programs, the right to defend America.

[Wallace T.]

If I'm not mistaken, libertarians oppose any government recognition of marriage, monogamous heterosexual or otherwise. With regard to recordation of marriages and marriage licenses, libertarians are closely in accord with the limited government philosophy of the Founders. Marriages were not recorded or licensed by state or local governments until the mid-19th Century, well after the generation of the Framers of the Constitution had passed on. However, the libertarian belief in neutrality with respect to the institution of marriage is contrary to common law concepts in Anglo-American jurisprudence, which regarded the marriage covenant as being different from and having higher standards than business or social associations.