Among the clearest of illustrations about what's wrong with our country is the marriage license. If there was ever a license that was pathetic, it's this one. Let's say you finally found that special someone in your life and you want to tie the knot. So you and your newfound soul-mate gleefully head down to the local courthouse to convince some bureaucrat that you really are in love, and ask them if it's okay.

Oh, barf.

Since when do we need government permission to get married? And if the government says "no" you two are going to sadly part ways, wishing upon a star that you could have met in another time in another... country?

Yeah, right.

More likely you're going to say "screw the government, we're getting married anyway", and say it rightly and proudly. But if you don't need government permission to get married, why ask for it by submitting a license application in the first place?

The people I hang out with don't even call it a marriage license. A "breeding license" is more to the point. That's right, if you want to do some late-night breeding with your spouse, well then, you'll have to get permission from the government, or you'll be in big trouble, I'm sure.

Most of the "religiously" faithful readily admit the bonds of marriage are formed by God, not man, and readily profess the biblical quote: "What God has joined, let no man separate".

Why then, do today's ministers conclude marriage cerimonies with "By the power vested in me by the state of [insert state here], I now pronounce you man and wife".

Are these ministers of God, or ministers of government? What power over marriage do they get from government that they do not get from God?

Marriage licenses have got to be the most disgusting government idea ever conceived, and this guy won't be caught dead with one. A legal marriage, yes; A lawful marriage, absolutely; A government grade-A approved, stamped and licensed marriage, forget it.

Neil McIver

All information presented here is done so under the protection of the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and article I section 2 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, as established in the famous trial of William Penn in August 1670, and contrary to the unlawful instructions given by most American judges, in addition to judging the facts of a case, juries also have the right and duty to pass judgement on the law (meaning they may acquit a violator of the law if they believe the law in question is unconstitutional, immoral, just plain stupid, or if the penalty is deemed too harsh). Juries are also lawfully free to vote according to their conscience, above all other considerations.