Slavery is legal and thriving in the United States of America. I find the injustice and hypocrisy to be absolutely appalling. There is no reason for it, especially today, and it needs to end. Men and women are being enslaved every day by the family court system. The majority of those enslaved are men. What I am talking about is “maintenance” or “alimony”. I have seen time and time again the effect of this disgusting practice on the lives of those enslaved. Courts don’t even care about fault anymore. So often, the courts are re-victimizing men.
I do not believe slavery should exist. Call it what you will, indentured servitude is slavery. Just remember, when slavery was openly called such in the United States, it was legal and on the books. Judges were just following the law, as they are now, right? Judges now are just as culpable as the judges then. Placing men and women into the servitude of maintenance to support another person’s quality of life. Someone they are no longer obligated to by contract they both agreed to get out of.
If no one is at-fault (which is the assumption of a No-Fault Divorce, the majority of divorces today. Some states only offer No-Fault) then why are they still obligated to one another? That does not make any sense other than to punish a person for earning more money.
What is Slavery?
The 13th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States states that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” It also states that “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” Colorado also has its own law against slavery, Article II section 26, having banned it in “all forms”. What is fascinating here in Colorado, is that there was such a push to abolish involuntary servitude and slavery, or forced labor, from inmates, but the state refuses to do anything about involuntary servitude forced on innocent men and women in this state who had the ill luck to earn more and get divorced. So when did getting divorced turn into a crime?
During a divorce, the Colorado courts (every state really, but I will speak on Colorado) take a person’s income into consideration. Somehow, the laws have been perverted into it now being a right for one person to provide for another’s lifestyle. Even more damning is that in Colorado, all divorce is No-Fault. So, you can have a man who earns twice as much as his wife, get punished to pay alimony for her even if she cheated on him and broke the marriage contract. Even if she worked full-time. Maintenance, Colorado CRS 14-10-103, is interchangeable with alimony. CRS 14-10-106(1)(b) states:
(b) In connection with every decree of dissolution of marriage or decree of legal separation and to the extent of its jurisdiction to do so, the court shall consider, approve, or allocate parental responsibilities with respect to any child of the marriage, the support of any child of the marriage who is entitled to support, the maintenance of either spouse, and the disposition of property; but the entry of a decree with respect to parental responsibilities, support, maintenance, or disposition of property may be deferred by the court until after the entry of the decree of dissolution of marriage or the decree of legal separation upon a finding that a deferral is in the best interests of the parties.
The court has taken upon itself that even though the marriage is dissolved, a spouse has to continue to support the other. In what world is that fair or right? They use the word “entitled”. They are “entitled” to another’s labor even though they are no longer under contract to be responsible towards each other. Forced labor. Often, this involuntary servitude ruins the quality of life of the one it incarcerates. There is no quality of life consideration for the slave.
section 14-10-114 should not exist. Any and all forms of involuntary servitude. That is what Colorado declared. You can commit a crime and go to prison but not be forced into servitude, but if you get married and be unfortunate enough to get divorced, you are now responsible for the lifestyle of someone you are no longer under contract with.
Divorce rates
The divorce rates are staggering. Many people say that there is no reason to get married, but do you really think you are safe? They are making men who are not even the biological father pay child support for women, what makes you think that they won’t make a co-habitation partner safe from slavery?
It is said now 60% of marriages end in divorce? The more money you make, and the greater disparity, the more risk you have of slavery. This will simply encourage people into economic class and encourage men to have thier wives work instead of stay at home with children. I’ve heard people say they don’t have to worry because they trust their spouse. Well, I’ve seen plenty of marriages end after 20 years, just where I worked. Maybe law enforcement is special, divorce is quite common and a high-risk of law enforcement that is well known, but 20 years?
Regardless, maintenance is not okay. You split your assets accordingly and go from there. You have no right to another’s labor. To the vast majority of women who are slave holders, I say you are in the wrong. Life is not here to cater to you. You can manage with the assets you have and figure it out. Maybe you have to live in an apartment for a while, many men do when they have to pay for you as well as themselves. A man’s quality of life is not taken into consideration. If you were truly strong women, then you would manage with what you have. They have no obligation to you. No one is required to care about you. So figure it out without harming others.
The Ugly Truth
My solution is to firstly not allow alimony to be granted for No-Fault divorces. Then, if there is At-Fault, divide assets accordingly. If there is a wage disparity, then perhaps the one with less ability to provide for themselves receive the bulk of the assets so that they can set themselves up to get gainful employment. I would also add that anyone who racks up debt just prior to divorce should be responsible for it themselves. There is no argument for alimony. When the marriage contract is over, it is over. Your obligation towards the other is done. Whatever people may wish to do on their own is up to them.
I keep reading comments from women saying “he needs to provide for the mother of his children”. No. He does not. If they are divorced (especially because most of the divorces the woman initiated it) then he does not have to give squat to her. Women, take care of yourselves. If a woman can’t provide, then she should give the custody of children to the father until she gets herself squared away. Or think long and hard before she or he decides to just fall out of love. They made an oath, a contract, and then he or she reneged on it. It is not to be taken lightly. No person should get a free ride in life given to them by the court system.
In the United States, in the state of Colorado, we would like to think that we are bastions of freedom. The home of the brave and the land of the free. We believe in our Consitution to protect our rights. When the government infringes on our rights, it should be met with angry outbursts and protests. So why are so many men and women being silently forced into slavery every day by our court system? It is actually vehemnantly defended by wailing and screeching of bitter and angry ex-partners, men and women alike.
The screeching I hear about “mah alimony” is the same screeching the South made when the North told them to release their slaves. And it is mostly women (about 97% of cases women receive alimony in cases involving alimony). It is not right. I keep reading you have a “right” to alimony. The court is saying you have a “right” to someone else’s labor. Therefore, the court is saying you have a right to slavery. When you have to force another to provide for you, that is no longer a right. You don’t have a right to someone else’s body. This needs to end today!
If you find yourself in support of alimony, you may just be a pro-slaver.
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