# Rational basis for not recognizing polygamy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 16, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rational-basis-for-not-recognizing-polygamy/585741 "2011-06-16T20:52:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rational-basis-for-not-recognizing-polygamy/585741/1 "2011-06-16T20:52:53Z")
This it to move an interesting hijack from [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13923815) thread. No state in the union grants marriage licenses for more than two people. I contend that this is a rational position. First, I see nothing inherently morally wrong with polygamy. Fraud and coercion can occur, but that is true of other marriages as well. I know that as a practical matter most communities that practice polygamy in the U.S. have serious issues, but those mostly happen because it is an underground institution. I should note that while I was raised a mainstream Mormon, I never met a polygamous family growing up. That said, I can see that codifying polygamy is much more complex than the existing marriage laws. Every aspect of marriage laws would need massive overhaul. These are not insurmountable obstacles. But they are real obstacles. Based on that my position is that the few remaining laws punishing those living in informed consensual poly situations should be removed, but the government is under no Constitutional obligation to recognize the multi party marriages. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rational-basis-for-not-recognizing-polygamy/585741)._