Poly Want A Harem?

Like Mr. Krauthammer, I find myself ambivalent toward the entire issue of resurgent polygamy in Western culture. I have no desire to engage in polygamy or polyamory. One wife is quite enough for me, and I'm content with the traditional, conservative arrangement, (which I'm sure my wife is delighted to hear). On the other hand, the practice has been implicitly condoned in a single State for many years, so it'd be rather difficult for the SCOTUS to make a truly decisive ruling should the issue ever get to that level.

Societies change; whether for better or worse is a matter for posterity. This is just one of those social changes that makes me shrug and yawn, as it leads nowhere of any real consequence from my perspective. I have serious doubts that polygamy could ever achieve widespread acceptance in any modern Western country, as it is antithesis to the very concept of women's rights, which almost universally becomes a focal point as cultures advance--for the better, in my opinion.

Ultimately, this issue--along with gay marriage--is really about hedonism rather than social structures. I see no reason to couch hedonism in legal language; if you want to be a hedonist and sensualist, then by all means be such. I have a vast indifference towards other people's indulgences. But don't expect society at large to pass laws praising you for your profligacy.


(Hat-tip to Harry S.)