The Genesis of a State Marriage License is Deeply Rooted in Racism

By Murray Sabrin

The Supreme Court’s decisions last week on gay marriage and Obamacare, have been another nail in the coffin of a constitutional republic in America.

Marriage has historically been a cultural tradition.  In fact, marriage licenses came about in the late 19th century to prevent mixed-race marriages.  Thus, the genesis of a state marriage license is deeply rooted in racism.  If the Supreme Court had just invalidated state marriage licenses years ago, marriages would then have had to be consecrated—validated-- where they had been for hundreds of years, in churches, synagogues and mosques, or individuals could marry by entering into a private contract.

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that gay marriage is constitutional right, will the Court now force religious institutions to perform gay marriages—a union that may violate their religious principles?  Moreover, if three or more people are in “love,” will the states have to recognize their request to be married?  After all, the proponents of gay marriage and the Court’s decision clearly argue, the government cannot place a roadblock for people in “love.”

As far as Obamacare is concerned, the Court’s decision upholding subsidies provided for people who purchase medical insurance on federal exchange is yet another ruling turning the Constitution on its head.   The Constitution does not authorize the federal government to either provide medical care for the people or subsidize the health insurance of the people. In short, the Supreme Court with its rulings over the decades has just validated hundreds of unconstitutional actives of the federal government, And the results have been predictable--federal government promises to take care of the people have led to a $210 trillion unfunded liability, undeclared wars and a vast military-industrial complex, erosion of our rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and an economy micromanaged by the Federal Reserve’s endless manipulation of interest rates causing the cycle of boom and bust.

Murray Sabrin is professor of finance in the Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey.