Coot, I think this marriage business has much to do with how a "lawfully married spouse" has several legal benefits that those who are unmarried lack.  

 

There are inheritance issues (if no Will is found, spouse gets all that the government doesn't,) Court testament issues (a legal spouse cannot be forced to testify against spouse,) Medical issues (only spouse can say turn off machines, or give permission for procedures,) and a few other issues that my coffee-deprived brain cannot conjur yet this morning..... 

 

Population control leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  I cannot help but think of China's "One Family One Child" business, and all the girl-babies that were killed so the family could try again for a more preferred boy child.   I recognize that some kind of Population Control is necessary, especially in the less developed countries, but how the heck can it be accomplished fairly?  

 

And I'm not sure I even know what a "neo-con" is?  I understand the term to refer to some form of conservatives, but "neo" refers to "new" doesn't it?   Perhaps Pikes will explain to us how a neo-con differs from a vanilla conservative.....