From: "Richard Hong" 

>> Maybe the marriage contract should kick into a state-recognized
relationship only once the kids are born or adopted.

Randall,

Why?  This makes little sense to me, as the legal responsibility of raising
a child falls to the natural parents, not the married parents.  I think
this becomes clearer when you consider the case of a child whose mother is
married, but was impregnated by someone other than her husband.  The
custodial rights remain with the natural parents as listed on the birth
certificate, and the woman's husband basically has no rights.

This is an example of why marriage is nothing but a financial arrangement,
and should not be recognized by the state.  The state does not presently
automatically confer custodial rights to a person based on marriage as
opposed to biological parentage.

Rich

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