Sorry it's off-topic, but I just want to add (as I'm not sure where else to mention it, this is the comments section of the polls) - I go *out of my way* to use Care2 on a different browser with no ad-blocking to help the site. I will not go through all the trouble and annoyance of turning off my blocker specifically for this site on Firefox, and then having to clear out everything, restart, reset and so on after using the site, nor will I make an exception for it as ads are not merely a visual annoyance. However, I specifically go through the trouble of opening up a different browser that I dislike to browse the site with full ads, and yet I am forced to use Firefox to post a comment. It's ridiculous that they expect users to support them in showing their intrusive ads (yes, the ads that extend out of their area and pop-up over the page and your text, like those Toyota ones, with sound, moving pictures or flashing colors, are extremely intrusive) but aren't making the site accessible to all users.

Okay, REALLY getting tired of comments not submitting on my browser and having to retype a paragraph from scratch when I have serious problems with my hands and wrists. From what I remember, I said: Marriage does not belong to the Christians. Marriage and similar concepts were around long before Christianity, and while I don't think a person of faith should be forced to do something they think is morally wrong (like forcing a priest to marry a gay or lesbian couple), those who are open and tolerant should have the right to do so and many heterosexual couples do not involve religion in their ceremony anyway, it is not the government's place to decide on such a matter and certainly not the place of a group that subscribe to a specific religious belief - especially when their main argument is that it "belongs" to them. While I am more pleased the decision was left up to the people than to a few ignorant, closed minded people in power, had the right of women and African Americans to vote been first put up to a public decision before their respective civil rights movements, neither one would have received their deserved privilege.

There is no good reason to forbid homosexual marriage. Gays and lesbians have as much right to be miserable as straight people. ;D

I have yet to determine how the marriage of two people affects the marriage of any other two people. I would like someone who opposes gay marriage to explain precisely how a gay marriage impacts on a heterosexual marriage, without dragging religion into the explanation. After all we are not all one religion.

Marriage should either be for everyone or dropped from the legal context in favor of civil unions. Those who want religious a ceremony could still have a church marriage, just file your civil papers and have the church wedding.

If other people's marriages have such an impact then why don't all couples within a group get divorced when one couple does?

The only thing I would disagree with you on Carrie, is that the fact of marriage gives divorcing couples legal access to all shared assets. It also gives widows and widowers all remaining assets, unless otherwise specified in a will.

Because people are, by nature, vindictive and violent, we cannot rely on the civil behavior of divorcing couples to split their assets equitably. That is, unless you are me and my ex.

We knew what was his, mine and ours. For the few things we both wanted, we spread them out in a small circle on the floor and I let him choose first.

There were 3 things left after that, and since he wasn't expected to live past 60, I let him have them on the condition that I get them after his death. It was in the will, but his sister stole them. We were a rarity.

I am in agreement with the proposition of liquidation of the institution of marriage. This is a repressive machination of the Church and chiefs of various religions with patronage of the State. Marriage will soon be a forgotten practice like many other religious practices. Living-together has already made a stable mark in rationalhuman life.

whatever, tax breaks we get for just being married is just fine. Breaks should not be given to businesses and corporations only. That is the real state of welfare. Repealing Gay marriage is a total injustice. All people should have equal rights.

well said Carrie, you put it all in a nutshell. unfortunately so many of who run this country are much older than you, and I think so many become closed minded with age. sad, isn't it? how does a country reach their potential with a closed mind?

I only say yes because I believe it is time to repeal all marriage! Marriage is 1 of 2 things it is a religious idea or it is welfare. The government should not give special privileges to those who ask permission from their state to live together. Tax breaks should not be given just because you have a license to live together. Business can give partner benefits, and each state should respect the written will of the people, for emergency, hospital, and personal belongings. This is about a persons personal life and the govement has no business in it.

That is a decision for the voters of Maine, not Care2 people from other parts of the world.