Switzerland my allow incest between siblings, and parent and adult children

[Skwim]

"Will Switzerland allow incest?
A Swiss law proposes decriminalizing consensual sexual relationships between parents and their adult children.

Switzerland is now considering a controversial new bill to decriminalize incest. A Justice Department spokesperson explains, "Incest continues to be a taboo in our society, but it's not up to criminal law to stop every morally reprehensible aspect of behavior. Rather, the law should be for punishing behavior that's particularly socially damaging."

Marriage between second-degree relatives (aunt/uncle, niece/nephew) is already legal in Switzerland, but the new measure would overturn the ban on consensual sexual relationships between siblings, and between parents and their adult children. (Sexual relationships with underage children would, of course, remain illegal.)"
source
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Ah, the signs are aborning. Can Armageddon be far behind? :run:

 

[angellous_evangellous]

That's nuttier than rat crap in a pistachio factory.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's nuttier than rat crap in a pistachio factory.

That's what gives pistachios that nutty flavor.

It does seem a victimless crime though.

 

[Skwim]

I can go along with incest between adult siblings, but there's too much of a chance for the parent power dynamic to assert itself in parent/child incest .

 

[Revoltingest]

I can go along with incest between adult siblings, but there's too much of a chance for the parent power dynamic to assert itself in parent/child incest .

I'd presume it would only be OK for consenting adults.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I can go along with incest between adult siblings, but there's too much of a chance for the parent power dynamic to assert itself in parent/child incest .

Using that argument, it seems to me like there is a high chance of sibling power dynamic as well.

 

[Skwim]

Using that argument, it seems to me like there is a high chance of sibling power dynamic as well.

Perhaps, but I don't see it. Whereas parents are always in a dominant position over their children, which is acknowledged by both, if even just tacitly so, among siblings this is pretty uncommon. This isn't to say that one sibling may not hold greater influence over the other, but I think this kind of dynamic is common in all kinds of adult relationships: non-incestuous, heterosexual, homosexual, and among those with extreme age and education disparities.

 

[gnomon]

Great.

Ma and Pa Zubriggen's slow child swinging on the front porch playing a mean alphorn while Jon Voigt and Burt Reynolds take on the Matterhorn.

 

[Valjean]

Oh dear... freedom -- liberty -- where will it all end?

 

[HonestJoe]

I can go along with incest between adult siblings, but there's too much of a chance for the parent power dynamic to assert itself in parent/child incest .

Aren't there lots of potential relationships with similar power dynamics? Should it be illegal to have a relationship with a work colleague or your tutor on an adult education course? What about significant age or intelligence differences?

There are practical reasons for rules and laws against incest but the same practical issues can apply to other relationships which aren't regulated in the same way. The laws really only remain in place on an emotive basis so maybe there is an argument for the law not to be involved.

 

[Primordial Annihilator]

That's what gives pistachios that nutty flavor.

It does seem a victimless crime though.

You don't think the likely genetically subnormal offspring of these revolting unions are victims?
Or the society that has to support them?


Once again the europeans demonstrate liberalism taken too far.

Disgusting...boycott the Swiss.

 

[Primordial Annihilator]

Oh dear... freedom -- liberty -- where will it all end?

Anarchy...that is why sometimes you need the Iron Fist...just bring him out when you need him and lock him away again when balance is restored

 

[Diederick]

I think the government is wrong in thinking this issue is solely moral, it is also genetic and thereby part of the sustenance of the healthy society. If parents reproduce with their own children, chances are higher those children will have birth defects, besides being unnatural in that it evades the normal partner acquisition and the evolutionary attributes that come with it (selecting a good partner). Also, I don't see how this would encourage balanced power in relationships.

I agree with Switzerland that the government has no business in moral issues, but it has business in keeping its society healthy. I don't see how 'the people' would be helped by legalizing marriage and sex between close biologic relatives. Changing the law to be on physical grounds instead of moral grounds would be good enough to tackle that issue.

 

[+Xausted]

Has something happened to bring this to be debated in Switerzerland? Are people requsting this law change?

 

[Revoltingest]

You don't think the likely genetically subnormal offspring of these revolting unions are victims?
Or the society that has to support them?

I'd expecxt that having offspring would be prohibited. Perhaps that's too much to presume.

 

[Primordial Annihilator]

I'd expecxt that having offspring would be prohibited. Perhaps that's too much to presume.

The mind boggles...

 

[HonestJoe]

I'd expecxt that having offspring would be prohibited. Perhaps that's too much to presume.

Is it for anyone else? If two unrelated people both knowingly carry the genes for a serious condition, are they legally prevented from having a sexual relationship? Should they be?

 

[Revoltingest]

Is it for anyone else? If two unrelated people both knowingly carry the genes for a serious condition, are they legally prevented from having a sexual relationship? Should they be?

I don't presume to offer Switzerland advice about what should be.
But genetic diversity & physical deformity are the basis for this taboo, so I'd expect them to address it.

 

[Magic Man]

I can go along with incest between adult siblings, but there's too much of a chance for the parent power dynamic to assert itself in parent/child incest .

Yeah, that's the tricky part. It is nice to see that there are countries where reason trumps religion and emotion even in politics. If only that could start happening in America.

 

[Magic Man]

I don't presume to offer Switzerland advice about what should be.
But genetic diversity & physical deformity are the basis for this taboo, so I'd expect them to address it.

I think his point was normal, unrelated consenting adults could conceive a baby that had deformities, but they'd be allowed to carry it to term, if they wanted. What do you see as the difference in the two cases?