An Alternative View . . .

[CaptnKirk]

A return to the 'Nuclear Family'

Something that has always existed in our country, and is practiced throughout the world is the family staying together and protecting itself as an entity.

Settlers from other countries came to our cities, and as their families grew, the elders stayed in the household and the children, as they grew up and raised their respective families, that family unit stayed together intact in an expanding home.
In any of todays major cities, there are entire neighborhoods that stand as testimony to this time of recent past.
Rooming houses, Dorms - I know of entire blocks that comprise neighborhood after neighborhood in the
St. Louis area that represents the German, Dutch, and Italian districts of the past, and are now the home to Bosnian immigrants that are continuing in this lifestyle today.

It is not unusual to find the Elders - men or women living with their children, and not having been farmed out to the Nursing Homes. Asians, for example practice this almost to extremes in some parts of the country today.

Well, why shouldn'tt these people in those circumstances be afforded the comfort and benefit of a 'Civil Union' to allow them to live in a 'Family' situation ? It's only fair - the parents were afforded this Family Envelope as they raised thier children and introduced them to society. If the grown son or daughter takes the responsibility of tending to and caring for their parents, as well as their parents raised them - it is a great benefit to the society, and reduces the government burden of fiscal compensation.

I had Great Grandfathers that when they were in their 99th - 106th years lived with their 83 year old son,
again - a grandfather. I have Great Aunts that in their 90's are living with sisters of my mother, and these are women in their 80's and 90's as well.

A very close friend of my wife who is almost 60 lives with and cares for her bedridden 88 year old mother. What's the option here ? Kick them to the curb, or recognize the options that could constitute a 'Civil Union'. This practice is common today throughtout Europe - even France.

 

[TuxDave]

So you're suggesting the father form a civil union with his son if his son is helping to take care of him? And the son can still marry his wife?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Along with polygamy, these types of relationships would be next on the list using the equal protection argument after gay marriage.

Logic being, why would you discriminate against a couple because they don't have sex?

There are a lot of married couples that do not have sex already.

I read a book (IIRC) by Robert Henlin that really explored relationships, and what they had evolved into were mini-corporations, you signed contracts, etc.

Always thought it was a cool idea.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Along with polygamy, these types of relationships would be next on the list using the equal protection argument after gay marriage.

Logic being, why would you discriminate against a couple because they don't have sex?

There are a lot of married couples that do not have sex already.

I read a book (IIRC) by Robert Henlin that really explored relationships, and what they had evolved into were mini-corporations, you signed contracts, etc.

Always thought it was a cool idea.

I tend to go with the view that you(both) write the contract and the govenment enforces your rules on you. Call it whatever you want.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
So you're suggesting the father form a civil union with his son if his son is helping to take care of him? And the son can still marry his wife?

In the case with my Grandfather and Great Grandfather, they lived together after both of their wives had died, and traveled together across the country - driving to see things and visit friends and relatives.

After my Great Grandfather died, my surving grandfather continued to live alone and visit with his other
surving son until he himself died when he was 108.

Simular with the Woman, twice divorced herself, she has been caring for her mother for 15 years -
since her dad died leaving his wife, her mother - needing live-in assistance daily.

 

[Moonbeam]

I think we should all live is Clans with Scottish names and on moon lit nights we could run around and club each other to death. Why not make life worth living.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
A return to the 'Nuclear Family'

Something that has always existed in our country, and is practiced throughout the world is the family staying together and protecting itself as an entity.

Settlers from other countries came to our cities, and as their families grew, the elders stayed in the household and the children, as they grew up and raised their respective families, that family unit stayed together intact in an expanding home.
In any of todays major cities, there are entire neighborhoods that stand as testimony to this time of recent past.
Rooming houses, Dorms - I know of entire blocks that comprise neighborhood after neighborhood in the
St. Louis area that represents the German, Dutch, and Italian districts of the past, and are now the home to Bosnian immigrants that are continuing in this lifestyle today.

It is not unusual to find the Elders - men or women living with their children, and not having been farmed out to the Nursing Homes. Asians, for example practice this almost to extremes in some parts of the country today.

Well, why shouldn'tt these people in those circumstances be afforded the comfort and benefit of a 'Civil Union' to allow them to live in a 'Family' situation ? It's only fair - the parents were afforded this Family Envelope as they raised thier children and introduced them to society. If the grown son or daughter takes the responsibility of tending to and caring for their parents, as well as their parents raised them - it is a great benefit to the society, and reduces the government burden of fiscal compensation.

I had Great Grandfathers that when they were in their 99th - 106th years lived with their 83 year old son,
again - a grandfather. I have Great Aunts that in their 90's are living with sisters of my mother, and these are women in their 80's and 90's as well.

A very close friend of my wife who is almost 60 lives with and cares for her bedridden 88 year old mother. What's the option here ? Kick them to the curb, or recognize the options that could constitute a 'Civil Union'. This practice is common today throughtout Europe - even France.

I think the idea you are raising is worthy of consideration. I do think that people who take on full-time "carer" roles make an enormous contribution to society (if nothing else, they save the government money) and they are rarely recognized at a societal level for their work. So maybe recognising full-time care roles in some way might be useful or valuable. However I wouldn't choose to call these kinds of relationships "civil unions" (a term I would reserve for romantic- or marital-style relationships between two adults).

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
A return to the 'Nuclear Family'

Something that has always existed in our country, and is practiced throughout the world is the family staying together and protecting itself as an entity.

Settlers from other countries came to our cities, and as their families grew, the elders stayed in the household and the children, as they grew up and raised their respective families, that family unit stayed together intact in an expanding home.
In any of todays major cities, there are entire neighborhoods that stand as testimony to this time of recent past.
Rooming houses, Dorms - I know of entire blocks that comprise neighborhood after neighborhood in the
St. Louis area that represents the German, Dutch, and Italian districts of the past, and are now the home to Bosnian immigrants that are continuing in this lifestyle today.

It is not unusual to find the Elders - men or women living with their children, and not having been farmed out to the Nursing Homes. Asians, for example practice this almost to extremes in some parts of the country today.

Well, why shouldn'tt these people in those circumstances be afforded the comfort and benefit of a 'Civil Union' to allow them to live in a 'Family' situation ? It's only fair - the parents were afforded this Family Envelope as they raised thier children and introduced them to society. If the grown son or daughter takes the responsibility of tending to and caring for their parents, as well as their parents raised them - it is a great benefit to the society, and reduces the government burden of fiscal compensation.

I had Great Grandfathers that when they were in their 99th - 106th years lived with their 83 year old son,
again - a grandfather. I have Great Aunts that in their 90's are living with sisters of my mother, and these are women in their 80's and 90's as well.

A very close friend of my wife who is almost 60 lives with and cares for her bedridden 88 year old mother. What's the option here ? Kick them to the curb, or recognize the options that could constitute a 'Civil Union'. This practice is common today throughtout Europe - even France.

Maybe someone has already said this, but a "nuclear family" is a family consisting only of the parents and children. I think what you are calling for is a return to the EXTENDED family; where many different generations live together (grand-parents, parents, children, grand-children). I think it is a nice idea; however it definitely conflicts with the desire held by many people in "modern society" for independence and autonomy; I mean, do YOU want to live with your parents for the rest of your life?!?

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
A very close friend of my wife who is almost 60 lives with and cares for her bedridden 88 year old mother. What's the option here ? Kick them to the curb, or recognize the options that could constitute a 'Civil Union'. This practice is common today throughtout Europe - even France.

In France, these non-marital relationships are recognised or formalised under what they call "civil solidarity pacts". Civil solidarity pacts allow people living in the same house to share health insurance, make medical decisions for each other (in the event someone is incapacitated), and so on. These arrangements can be useful when (for example) a child is caring for their elderly or ill parents.