[Buckeye Bomber]

The country has every right to regulate whether marriages can be granted. I am not debating so-called "defense of marriage" laws. Marriage is a public contract, and is therefore subject to legislative regulation.

Sexual intercourse is an altogether different matter. If a man wants to have 20 women living in his house, and they all agree, and he's having sex with all of them, that's his right. If a man and woman who happen to be adults from the same genetic line choose to have sex, that is their right.

[AveMaria]

[....Sexual intercourse is an altogether different matter. If a man wants to have 20 women living in his house, and they all agree, and he's having sex with all of them, that's his right.....]

Actually, the 1890 Supreme Court ruling against polygamy specifically prevented Mormons from Utah from doing as you describe.

The ruling was clear in that, even if polygamous unions are not recognized by the government, and that the polygamous unions are only recognized among members of a particular religious sect, the state can still prosecute a man living with several wives. According to the law, it does not matter whether the state recognizes the union or not. Such polygamists still face the risk of being arrested.