Why I Think Marriage Equality is So Important

[tekla]

Gee, a master's in US History, working political campaigns most of my life, teaching US government at the university level for 15 years, working for the DoD and DoE, teaching military history to ROTC students for over a decade, proudly arrested for civil disobedience twice in Nevada - that's pretty much mainstream establishment.


And he's not engaging in civil disobedience as he's not breaking any laws.  He is, as they like to say in business-speak, allocating scarce resources.  No different then when the anti-trust sections of the AG's Office go on hiatus during Republican Administrations. 


Oh, and many very moral Americans have basically said that all US citizens have an obligation to engage in civil disobedience if they feel the law is morally wrong.  See: King, Thoreau and others.

[Shana A]

Of course, the Democrats did not do anything like that with DOMA or ENDA during the 111th Congress.  I wonder why?

Jamie,

Obviously you're very disappointed in the accomplishments, or lack of, by the current administration. As a progressive, I have my share of disappointments as well, including ENDA. On a number of important issues, there isn't much difference between the two parties, they were both paid for by the same contributors to SuperPACs. However there are significant differences in a number of areas, thus I believe the alternative of a Romney administration would be much worse for LGBTIQ people, as well as for women's right to choice.

I personally would have preferred a single payer Medicare for All approach than the ACA. But, I'll take the ACA over what we had previously. That is, I'll take it if my state implements it. For all that its opponents go on about "Obamacare", the bill is pretty much based on what Gov Romney signed into law in MA. If ACA had been passed by a Republican, they probably wouldn't be trying to repeal it.

Looking to 3rd party candidates, I find a lot more of what I want to hear. I would love to vote for Jill Stein (Green Party), but I live in a swing state. So I will make a choice that is a compromise.

Zythyra

[tekla]

Look up the Samuel L. Jackson ad, it's pretty good.  The differences are real, deep and dangerous.

[Shana A]

Look up the Samuel L. Jackson ad, it's pretty good.  The differences are real, deep and dangerous.

I assume you mean the WTFU ad, yeah, that pretty much says it.

Z

[Jamie D]

Jamie,

Obviously you're very disappointed in the accomplishments, or lack of, by the current administration. As a progressive, I have my share of disappointments as well, including ENDA. On a number of important issues, there isn't much difference between the two parties, they were both paid for by the same contributors to SuperPACs. However there are significant differences in a number of areas, thus I believe the alternative of a Romney administration would be much worse for LGBTIQ people, as well as for women's right to choice.

I personally would have preferred a single payer Medicare for All approach than the ACA. But, I'll take the ACA over what we had previously. That is, I'll take it if my state implements it. For all that its opponents go on about "Obamacare", the bill is pretty much based on what Gov Romney signed into law in MA. If ACA had been passed by a Republican, they probably wouldn't be trying to repeal it.

Looking to 3rd party candidates, I find a lot more of what I want to hear. I would love to vote for Jill Stein (Green Party), but I live in a swing state. So I will make a choice that is a compromise.

Zythyra

I don't live in a swing state.  I live in a bankrupt state!

So I will cast my votes accordingly.

[Constance]

While various cities in our state have declared bankruptcy, I hadn't heard (nor can I currently find any articles saying) that California is bankrupt.

[Devlyn]

I thought Jamie meant a bankrupt state, not a bankrupt State. Hugs, Devlyn

[Kevin Peña]

Ugh, politics.  (Why can't we just get along?)

I honestly think that everyone should have the right to marry who/what they want. If you think about it, there's nothing inherently wrong with polygamy, gay marriage, etc. As long as no one is getting hurt and all parties involved are supportive of the marriage, then maybe everyone should, to use the most hypocritical phrase ever considering how all people don't actually do it, "mind your own business."   

As for politics, if you think the president actually matters, you're mistaken. Congress is the real problem when it comes to legislative action. Take a US govt. class and learn exactly how short-handed the president is with power. However, if you actually think that conservative tactics work, you might need to look at a bit of history, particularly 2000-2008 or at LBJ's presidency, when a futile war similar to the wars of today (supported by conservatives) ruined the country's chance at progress. If you don't think that a combination of liberal and conservative tactics, when the sensible ones are used, work, look at FDR's presidency.

[tekla]

I don't live in a swing state. I live in a bankrupta very liberal city, in an extremely liberal state!  So none of this will affect me.  I don't have to care what happens to people in the more marginal states.  I'm protected.  The others, not so much.  But heck, I'm not going to have to live in the fallout, so let the chips fall where they may.

[Jamie D]

While various cities in our state have declared bankruptcy, I hadn't heard (nor can I currently find any articles saying) that California is bankrupt.

Both figuratively and literally:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  California's budget deficit has swelled to a projected $16 billion -- much larger than had been predicted just months ago -- and will force severe cuts to schools and public safety if voters fail to approve tax increases in November, Gov. Jerry Brown said Saturday."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/12/california-budget-deficit-has-swelled-16-billion-governor-says/#ixzz2Aj62rxs0

EDIT: Fiscal policies and spending have very real consequences for the GLBTQ community.  Locally, in June 2011, the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance closed its doors because of a lack of funding and donations.  That was initially my source for counseling and information, and no one can blame Republicans for the mismanagement of state and county funding.

[Kevin Peña]

I don't live in a swing state. I live in a bankrupta very liberal city, in an extremely liberal state!  So none of this will affect me.  I don't have to care what happens to people in the more marginal states.  I'm protected.  The others, not so much.  But heck, I'm not going to have to live in the fallout, so let the chips fall where they may.

Um, Tekla, English is my second language, so I couldn't understand what you're saying. I'm sorry, but could you elaborate? 

[Sarah Louise]

Brown will get fake money any way he can.  He passed a surcharge for people living in fire areas.  We got a notice last week saying we have to pay an Extra $160 a year fee for the fire department to cover our area.

An Illegal Tax.  Just as his Prop 30 is fake, if you read the bill it can be used  to reduce the state deficate, not just for schools (if any would actually go to the schools).

[Constance]

My initial purpose with this thread was to describe why I thought the issue of same-sex marriage was so important. This thread has deviated from that topic.

For those who encouraged me to post this, I thank you for your encouragement. I will refrain from starting political threads again.

Please lock (or delete, whichever is deemed the best action) this thread.

[Devlyn]

As you wish, Constance.