On last night’s Daily Show, Jon Stewart debated Bill Bennett on gay marriage. (That’s a link to the video.) I always root for Stewart when he debates conservatives on social issues, but I always wind up frothing because he leaves out certain arguments that I would have made, or he misses an opportunity to make a good point about something and instead makes a joke. I always wish I could butt in.
For instance, Bennett brought up the common “slippery slope” argument that gay marriage might lead to polygamy. I LOATHE slippery-slope arguments. Here’s my response: issues should be argued on their own terms. Look – if you can’t think of valid, independent arguments against polygamy, then maybe polygamy should be legal. Oh? What’s that? You argue that I’m being ridiculous, because polygamy is sexist and creates economic inequality among husband and wives? Well, there you go! There’s your argument! Now, how exactly does legal gay marriage invalidate that argument?
For the record, Stewart did point out (although he didn’t say it very well) that homosexuality is part of who a person is, while polygamy is a choice. But I don’t think that’s a valid argument in and of itself. You can’t just argue that polygamy is a choice, because someone could respond, “It’s not a choice that I love all three of these women.” You have to argue about the effects of polygamy, not about the cause of it. It can be fun to watch Jon Stewart debate someone, but it can also be frustrating.
Well, also, one can point out that the government can put certain restrictions on marriage when there is a compelling government interest; for example, the ban on close blood relatives marrying and minimum age requirements. Extending the right of marriage to same-sex couples does not change any of the laws about marriage other than eliminating a gender requirement. Polygamy, however, would result in a whole host of legal complications related to taxation, inheritance, custody, divorce, etc., and all of those taken together could certainly be construed as a compelling argument against doing it. Also — even though its admittedly a weak argument since minorities have rights regardless of their percentage of the population — you don’t see thousands of people marching annually in every major city across the nation agitating for legalized polygamy. I just don’t see polygamy as something that’s actually going to happen.
“Issues should be argued on their own terms.”
Exactly! Well put.
Still, I think this may be the most worked-up I’ve seen Jon Stewart get about, well, anything — it was really refreshing to see someone who’s not already part of the “choir” argue so passionately on the side of common sense.