And you thought politics in the United States were crazy! We've got nothing on the Scots.
Due to a "legislative quirk," the Scottish parliament was forced to debate legalizing incestual relationships between consenting adults.
The mandatory debate was held today due to a petition submitted by Australian Richard Morris. The Scottish parliament must consider all petitions which propose a law change.
Morris defended his position in a written statement:
Public fears, prejudice and bigotry about ACI [Adult Consensual Incest] are mostly due to ignorance created over many years mostly by the church and church-influenced governments and newspapers, in much the same way as public fears and bigotry about homosexuality were created.
In general, societies have a tendency to target isolated individuals and to attack anything perceived to be different as a threat.
But, even in a nation where the men wear skirts, the legalization of incest didn't get far. As BuzzFeed.com reports:
The committee immediately threw out the petition on the basis that there is “no indication that there is any desire” to legalise incest in Scotland.