Well for me my marriage is far more than a piece of paper- but owuld exist independently without it. IME the contract is very little of the whole.
So why doI want another option? becuase I think choices matter,and they empower.
there are the extremes of marriage-which most of us I think want and thats fine, we have that- and nothing.
But increasingly poeple don't fall into those brackets, perhaps becuase of failed past marriages, or what they experienced as a child, or ideology or whatever.
So the choices are either to completely write those people off(unless they are educated or well off enough to do it themselves) or give an alternative.
An optional alternative, so that nobody falls into it just by dint of living together- I was all for automatic but was convinced otherwise by Mn, and after thinking deeply about how more awful the break up from XP would have been with rights to sort.
But something affordable- becuase it would be cheaper than a wedding, I would set the maximumcost on it of a marriage licence- most peoplewant,if not need, a bit mroeon their wedding day soawedding does cost mroe normally. And as I said,a big unprotecetd group ATM is people saving for a big wedding- let them have their dream and security now!
Something as accessible as a marriage licence.
And as importantly if not more,something with an associated campaign about what rights really exist. Too many women do not know.
Modern life has created a far more complex world than before- in old timesy ou married,or you stayed single.Now life isn't like that,like it or not,and mrriage isn't necessarily for ever either which will influence future choices as well.
There should be as many options as there aresituation- one for people into marriage and committed, one for people not into marriage and wanting commitment,and one for people wanting no commitment. Covered.
I do think it is better for society of partners (and usually women) are given security when wanted. And it is a simple truth that marriage isnt for everyone-I managed to adapt my wedding to suit me (no white lace gift wrapping (which is how I felt when I tried it on- I did not want my dad to give me as a gift to a man!), I did a speech, had a best woman etc etc)- others have deeper ideological problems that can't be so easily overcome.