"German MP calls for marriage expiry date" (claim)

Britannist · 20-09-2007, 08:30 PM

German MP Gabriele Pauli has (allegedly) called for a "marriage expiry date" to be introduced. Miss Pauli is a member of the Christian Social Union (the Conservative Party of Bavaria) which includes eurosceptics among its members. The Christian Social Union is the 'sister' party to the Christian Democrats (Germany's largest political party which leads the German coalition Government).

There's more on this at:

German MP calls for marriage expiry date - Telegraph

Aardvark · 20-09-2007, 11:35 PM

In fact she wants a marriage renewal date which, given the parlous state of marriage in our country, would be achieved by barely half of married couples. Her pronouncement is a publicity stunt that has brought her the headlines she wanted, but it has put the cat amongst the pigeons in the CDU/CSU coalition.

I don't necessarily agree with her, but it is important that such suggestions are debated. The idea could even strengthen the insitution in that people who currently live together to avoid the lifelong commitment might go for a more flexible arrangement.

g hall · 21-09-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Miss Pauli is a member of the Christian Social Union (the Conservative Party of Bavaria)

So not a real Christian then - if I remember my marriage vows correctly - it's til death us do part

Phil Sheldon · 21-09-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

So not a real Christian then - if I remember my marriage vows correctly - it's til death us do part

Agree 100%.

Another potty idea from an (Unmarried) glory seeking, no ideas female.

John Carter · 21-09-2007, 02:08 PM

Of course, the real way to solve marriage problems is to make divorce illegal - then only folks who're absolutely committed would get married in the first place.

(and it'd make the gay lobby shut their mouths too)

Besoeker · 21-09-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Carter

Of course, the real way to solve marriage problems is to make divorce illegal....

Then again, if you made marriage illegal, you wouldn't have any divorce problems.

Aardvark · 21-09-2007, 05:04 PM

Divorce was virtually illegal until the last century. An individual seeking divorce needed an Act of Parliament. It didn't make people happier and marriages still failed, but people lived apart or in separate beds in abject misery. Women were virtual chattels and many a man married so that he could drink or gamble his wife's fortune. Even engagement could be sued on at one time.

Women could be beaten (rule of thumb) and deprived of all rights by their husbands. Men frequently had mistresses and widows and the single mums resorted to prostitution to survive (there were more prostitutes in Pitt's London than there are today in a population 10 times the size).

Stronger women who couldn't divorce and could avoid rape (legal within marriage) could force their men from the bedroom and into the arms of prostitutes and mistresses.

The last King of England to remain faithful to his wife was George III (d1820) who went mad for the last 20 years of his life, though the 2 are not necessarily connected.

I am widowed, but sympathise with the many divorcees that I know. Most did not choose to have their marriage break down, but as people grow older they change. I know lots of men who don't sleep with their wives and haven't for years. They are respected pillars of the community and are frequently seen out with their partners,but behind closed doors they are genuinely unhappy, as are their wives.

'Sons and Lovers', based on D H Lawrence's family, is a good book for how it shows the 'unfortunate' Mrs Morel who had married a hard working, good looking man who dressed and danced well ended up with a drunken violent man who caused problems at work.

20-09-2007, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	"German MP calls for marriage expiry date" (claim) German MP Gabriele Pauli has (allegedly) called for a "marriage expiry date" to be introduced. Miss Pauli is a member of the Christian Social Union (the Conservative Party of Bavaria) which includes eurosceptics among its members. The Christian Social Union is the 'sister' party to the Christian Democrats (Germany's largest political party which leads the German coalition Government). There's more on this at: German MP calls for marriage expiry date - Telegraph

20-09-2007, 11:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 3,987	In fact she wants a marriage renewal date which, given the parlous state of marriage in our country, would be achieved by barely half of married couples. Her pronouncement is a publicity stunt that has brought her the headlines she wanted, but it has put the cat amongst the pigeons in the CDU/CSU coalition. I don't necessarily agree with her, but it is important that such suggestions are debated. The idea could even strengthen the insitution in that people who currently live together to avoid the lifelong commitment might go for a more flexible arrangement. __________________ When in Woking do as the Wokes do. "I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

21-09-2007, 05:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 3,987	Divorce was virtually illegal until the last century. An individual seeking divorce needed an Act of Parliament. It didn't make people happier and marriages still failed, but people lived apart or in separate beds in abject misery. Women were virtual chattels and many a man married so that he could drink or gamble his wife's fortune. Even engagement could be sued on at one time. Women could be beaten (rule of thumb) and deprived of all rights by their husbands. Men frequently had mistresses and widows and the single mums resorted to prostitution to survive (there were more prostitutes in Pitt's London than there are today in a population 10 times the size). Stronger women who couldn't divorce and could avoid rape (legal within marriage) could force their men from the bedroom and into the arms of prostitutes and mistresses. The last King of England to remain faithful to his wife was George III (d1820) who went mad for the last 20 years of his life, though the 2 are not necessarily connected. I am widowed, but sympathise with the many divorcees that I know. Most did not choose to have their marriage break down, but as people grow older they change. I know lots of men who don't sleep with their wives and haven't for years. They are respected pillars of the community and are frequently seen out with their partners,but behind closed doors they are genuinely unhappy, as are their wives. 'Sons and Lovers', based on D H Lawrence's family, is a good book for how it shows the 'unfortunate' Mrs Morel who had married a hard working, good looking man who dressed and danced well ended up with a drunken violent man who caused problems at work. __________________ When in Woking do as the Wokes do. "I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008 Last edited by Aardvark; 21-09-2007 at 05:09 PM.

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21-09-2007, 02:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Of course, the real way to solve marriage problems is to make divorce illegal - then only folks who're absolutely committed would get married in the first place. (and it'd make the gay lobby shut their mouths too)