The teacher's union is agitating about benefits for domestic partners again. I'm afraid I don't understand why the state has an interest in taking a relationship seriously if the man and woman don't take it seriously enough to make a commitment.

If there are children involved, then call it a common law marriage and enforce the usual penalties if someone deserts, but two people just shacking up doesn't seem to me enough of a relationship to trigger the state's enforcing laws about benefits.