Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Activism and Politics => Politics => Topic started by: AshleeLC on February 28, 2014, 05:34:34 PM

Title: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: AshleeLC on February 28, 2014, 05:34:34 PM
Seeing as recently the President issued an Executive order regarding the minimum wage, I was wondering what your opinonis are of him issuing an Executive Order on Gay and Lesbian marriages as well as issues regarding the trans community, such as recognizing marriages on the federal level, if the states wont allow it, or something of that sort.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Hikari on February 28, 2014, 05:41:46 PM
Well, even I don't think the president could legitimately exercise that much authority on an executive order, and I generally support that sort of thing. Also he doesn't stand to really gain much politically from it, especially since he is mindful of trying not to rock the boat to hopefully make it easier for. Hilary to win in 2016.

It is going to get solved in the courts I am nearly sure, we really can't depend on the executive or legislative branch these days.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 01, 2014, 07:42:54 PM
TEI, Obama's executive order only requires a minimum hourly wage of $10.10 for companies that are to receive federal work contracts. He can't legally require a different minimum for companies beyond these type of situations.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jamie D on March 01, 2014, 08:06:07 PM
Quote from: Tic Est Ipse on February 28, 2014, 05:34:34 PM
Seeing as recently the President issued an Executive order regarding the minimum wage, I was wondering what your opinons are of him issuing an Executive Order on Gay and Lesbian marriages as well as issues regarding the trans community, such as recognizing marriages on the federal level, if the states wont allow it, or something of that sort.

It's not quite a dictatorship ... yet.  Getting there though.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 01, 2014, 08:27:41 PM
Quote from: Jamie de la Rosa on March 01, 2014, 08:06:07 PM
It's not quite a dictatorship ... yet.  Getting there though.

Professor Turley has some more good comments before congress recently about this. He mentioned something I feel sums up a lot of people's frustration, he essentially said the founding fathers never contemplated a congress and judicial branch so willing to allow this from the executive branch.

Regarding marriage, I'd like to see the government get out of the marriage business entirely. Marriage would be a purely private matter any consenting adult wishes to enter. No more government tax breaks, each person files taxes separate, will your property to whom you desire, etc. Problem solved.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: skin on March 01, 2014, 08:42:08 PM
Quote from: Jamie de la Rosa on March 01, 2014, 08:06:07 PM
It's not quite a dictatorship ... yet.  Getting there though.

President Obama has been issuing executive orders in a manner no different and at no greater frequency than they have been used since 1900 or so.  If you want to talk about government surveillance, that is an entirely different discussion, but to say we are heading towards a dictatorship in reference to an executive order on the minimum wage is quite absurd. 
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: MadeleineG on March 01, 2014, 09:00:09 PM
Quote from: Nikko on March 01, 2014, 08:27:41 PM
Regarding marriage, I'd like to see the government get out of the marriage business entirely. Marriage would be a purely private matter any consenting adult wishes to enter. No more government tax breaks, each person files taxes separate, will your property to whom you desire, etc. Problem solved.

+1

legal marriage = slavery
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 01, 2014, 09:10:17 PM
Quote from: skin on March 01, 2014, 08:42:08 PM
President Obama has been issuing executive orders in a manner no different and at no greater frequency than they have been used since 1900 or so.  If you want to talk about government surveillance, that is an entirely different discussion, but to say we are heading towards a dictatorship in reference to an executive order on the minimum wage is quite absurd.

It's not about frequency of the orders, it's the nature of them that has many legal scholars (including liberal ones) concerned. The executive branch can't do the legislative branch's job or ignore the laws they pass.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jamie D on March 01, 2014, 10:20:27 PM
Quote from: skin on March 01, 2014, 08:42:08 PM
President Obama has been issuing executive orders in a manner no different and at no greater frequency than they have been used since 1900 or so.  If you want to talk about government surveillance, that is an entirely different discussion, but to say we are heading towards a dictatorship in reference to an executive order on the minimum wage is quite absurd.

Take a look at the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer case, concerning President Truman's Executive orders in the absence of legislation or an emergency.

Justice Robert Jackson, in concurrence wrote about the legitimacy of Executive orders:

1. When the President acts pursuant to an express or implied authorization of Congress, his authority is at its maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right plus all that Congress can delegate.  In these circumstances, and in these only, may he be said (for what it may be worth) to personify the federal sovereignty. If his act is held unconstitutional under these circumstances, it usually means that the Federal Government, as an undivided whole, lacks power. A seizure executed by the President pursuant to an Act of Congress would be supported by the strongest of presumptions and the widest latitude of judicial interpretation, and the burden of persuasion would rest heavily upon any who might attack it.

2. When the President acts in absence of either a congressional grant or denial of authority, he can only rely upon his own independent powers, but there is a zone of twilight in which he and Congress may have concurrent authority, or in which its distribution is uncertain. Therefore, congressional inertia, indifference or quiescence may sometimes, at least, as a practical matter, enable, if not invite, measures on independent presidential responsibility. In this area, any actual test of power is likely to depend on the imperatives of events and contemporary imponderables, rather than on abstract theories of law.

3. When the President takes measures incompatible with the expressed or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb, for then he can rely only upon his own constitutional powers minus any constitutional powers of Congress over the matter. Courts can sustain exclusive presidential control in such a case only by disabling the Congress from acting upon the subject.  Presidential claim to a power at once so conclusive and preclusive must be scrutinized with caution, for what is at stake is the equilibrium established by our constitutional system.


Mr 0bama has no independent authority to issue executive orders concerning same-sex marriage.  Period.

Mr 0bama bypassed Congress to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers.  "First, his power grab signals a remarkable new brazenness in his already contentious dealings with the legislative branch.  Not only that, it marks a sudden and stunning reversal of his previous position on this issue.

"This has always been done legislatively," White House spokesman Jay Carney said last month when asked about raising the wage unilaterally, "and it has been done with support from Republicans and not just Democrats in the past."


Mr. 0bama's unilateral decisions to ignore existing law regarding immigration, dates for 0bamacare implementation, etc, are simply extra-constitutional.  This is what borders on dictatorship.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: skin on March 02, 2014, 02:25:11 AM
Quote from: Jamie D on March 01, 2014, 10:20:27 PM
Mr 0bama has no independent authority to issue executive orders concerning same-sex marriage.  Period.

He hasn't.

Quote from: Jamie D on March 01, 2014, 10:20:27 PM
Mr 0bama bypassed Congress to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers...

Mr. 0bama's unilateral decisions to ignore existing law regarding immigration, dates for 0bamacare implementation, etc, are simply extra-constitutional.  This is what borders on dictatorship.

When executive orders have in the past ordered a prohibition of possessing gold coins, imprisonment of people of Japanese descent, military action without congressional approval, and warrantless wiretaps among many other severe actions, to suggest raising the minimum wage for federal workers or delaying implementation of part of a law is bordering on dictatorship is hyperbolic.  I would imagine people that have suffered under actual dictatorships would take issue as well.  Executive orders are quite the grey area, Justice Robert Jackson's opinion in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer makes that clear.  If you believe Obama is misusing the EO, your opinion is very valid.  However, considering the scope of his orders, especially in the context of the current congress being completely inept, to suggest dictatorship is going way too far.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jess42 on March 02, 2014, 04:19:32 AM
I think it's a really bad idea on many levels. The first and worst being it could and probably would cause resentment. I mean in a lot of the places it has been left up to the people it was voted in. I believe in states rights and if I don't like what one state will allow then I move to another. 'BIG BUT' states that do not allow should recognize the marriage just like marriage licenses between two hetero people.

The very biggest one for me, why the crap would anyone want to get married? It truly is an institution but more like a prison or insane asylum. :D But seriously though give it time and stop pushing so hard for it. It is an upward trend in which more and more people are agreeing with. If the President comes in and forces by pen people to accept it, then it will cause a lot more problems than it will solve. How about making it a law that states don't have to marry these couples but rather at least recognize the marriage. Yes that would cause a little bit of resentment but not near as much as forcing them to issue the licenses themselves. Personally I believe in another 5-10 years the gay marriage debate will be over and accepted across all 50 states.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jamie D on March 02, 2014, 04:29:57 AM
Quote from: skin on March 02, 2014, 02:25:11 AM
He hasn't.

When executive orders have in the past ordered a prohibition of possessing gold coins, imprisonment of people of Japanese descent, military action without congressional approval, and warrantless wiretaps among many other severe actions, to suggest raising the minimum wage for federal workers or delaying implementation of part of a law is bordering on dictatorship is hyperbolic.  I would imagine people that have suffered under actual dictatorships would take issue as well.  Executive orders are quite the grey area, Justice Robert Jackson's opinion in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer makes that clear.  If you believe Obama is misusing the EO, your opinion is very valid.  However, considering the scope of his orders, especially in the context of the current congress being completely inept, to suggest dictatorship is going way too far.

What do you call an executive who assumes legislative powers?
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Yukari-sensei on March 02, 2014, 05:24:45 AM
And what pray tell do you call a legislature that is incapable of legislation?

Consider the Republican block of extension of Veteran's Benefits... if Congress is incapable of even something that so painfully simple and sensible, I would place the blame for the situation on the legislature... and to be perfectly candid the most intransigent , inconsiderate, and incomprehensible elements seem to be coming dis proportionally from the Republican/Tea Party...

Say what you will about Obama... but he's not a dictator. I'm also disappointed because I thought I was getting a liberal! If you have issues with his politics, just wait till the remnants of the defunct Republican party get trounced in the next election cycles...

And on the main issue:

This will never be an executive order issue. Rather thanks to an interesting aspect of Scallia's ruling in DOMA, this will be more a series of dominos falling in the judicial circuit. It's just a matter of time before marriage equality is in all 50 states. Heck, by the time it's a majority, the legislature might actually seal the deal for the rest of them and accelerate the process!
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jamie D on March 02, 2014, 05:38:30 AM
Quote from: Yukari-sensei on March 02, 2014, 05:24:45 AM
And what pray tell do you call a legislature that is incapable of legislation?

Consider the Republican block of extension of Veteran's Benefits... if Congress is incapable of even something that so painfully simple and sensible, I would place the blame for the situation on the legislature... and to be perfectly candid the most intransigent , inconsiderate, and incomprehensible elements seem to be coming dis proportionally from the Republican/Tea Party...

Say what you will about Obama... but he's not a dictator. I'm also disappointed because I thought I was getting a liberal! If you have issues with his politics, just wait till the remnants of the defunct Republican party get trounced in the next election cycles...

And on the main issue:

This will never be an executive order issue. Rather thanks to an interesting aspect of Scallia's ruling in DOMA, this will be more a series of dominos falling in the judicial circuit. It's just a matter of time before marriage equality is in all 50 states. Heck, by the time it's a majority, the legislature might actually seal the deal for the rest of them and accelerate the process!

It takes two to tango, hon.  Gridlock is the result of the past couple of general elections.  I would much rather have a Congress that holds the line against the excesses of 2009-2011.  And things look like Harry Reid will be the Minority leader in the Senate starting January 2015.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
QuoteAnd what pray tell do you call a legislature that is incapable of legislation?

Let me tell you something else they didn't do. The congress didn't abuse numerous conservative groups and individuals with the IRS for purely political reasons and lie about it and to this day stonewall investigations. The congress didn't leave four good men to die in Benghazi and then lie to the American people about it and to this day have stonewalled investigations. The congress didn't seize journalist's phone records without their knowledge. The congress isn't collecting all emails and phone call records. The congress didn't threaten imprisonment of a conservative news reporter (Jay Rosen) for doing his job.

What you mean is incapable of passing the legislation you want? I believe a less active legislature is a positive. And it's the dems who have failed to get a budget passed and plan not to pass on this year... again.

I know what I call trillion dollar annual deficits the last five years... irresponsible and immoral. We have no right to spend future generation's money, it's called taxation without proper representation. Let's see, why'd the American people revolt in the 1700's again? Oh yeah, now I remember.

I also believe forcing people to lose their doctors and insurance plans and under the force of threat to purchase plans they can't afford is arrogant and immoral.

I have no idea why you want even more of this, but this will go down as a very dark period in our history.

Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: skin on March 02, 2014, 02:57:48 PM
Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
The congress didn't abuse numerous conservative groups and individuals with the IRS for purely political reasons and lie about it and to this day stonewall investigations.

I am so sick of this issue.  Yes, there were more conservative groups targeted than liberal, but they all deserved the extra scrutiny.  In fact, I believe that office did not go far enough - they should have denied tax exempt status to all of them, conservative or liberal. 

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
The congress didn't leave four good men to die in Benghazi and then lie to the American people about it and to this day have stonewalled investigations.

No, they just slashed the budget for embassy security, but I'm sure that had no effect at all.

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
The congress didn't seize journalist's phone records without their knowledge. The congress isn't collecting all emails and phone call records. The congress didn't threaten imprisonment of a conservative news reporter (Jay Rosen) for doing his job.

Don't get me wrong, I am extremely disappointed with the administration regarding privacy and national security.  But Congress overwhelmingly passing the PATRIOT Act and then renewing definitely contributed to the current climate.

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
What you mean is incapable of passing the legislation you want? I believe a less active legislature is a positive.

Please explain how the government shutdown and repeatedly going to the brink on the debt ceiling is a positive thing?

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
And it's the dems who have failed to get a budget passed and plan not to pass on this year... again.

It takes two sides to cause gridlock.

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
I know what I call trillion dollar annual deficits the last five years... irresponsible and immoral. We have no right to spend future generation's money, it's called taxation without proper representation. Let's see, why'd the American people revolt in the 1700's again? Oh yeah, now I remember.

To suggest we are in the same situation America was in pre-Revolution is again hyperbolic and irresponsible.  It is extreme statements like this from both sides that have caused America to become so polarized and politicians unwilling to compromise.

Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 11:02:11 AM
I also believe forcing people to lose their doctors and insurance plans and under the force of threat to purchase plans they can't afford is arrogant and immoral.

There are definite problems with the ACA, but reform was needed.  Maybe if the opposition actually put forth ideas that could lead to bettering America instead of wasting legislative time holding dozens and dozens of purely symbolic votes repealing the act, it could be improved.

Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Hikari on March 02, 2014, 03:13:10 PM
Lol Skin I agree completely, I also would like to note that mention of Obama doing something has provoked such a visceral response for no real reason. It could just be said that it probably wouldn't be legal to try and use an executive order in that way. I understand being angry at the situation and even the policies, I was quite frustrated when they decided waterboarding somehow wasn't torture when the US wanted to do it, but that didn't make George Bush responsible for the common cold. No president has the power or authority to justify the level of blame pushed on them for events that took place under their term.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 02, 2014, 04:07:23 PM
Quote from: skin on March 02, 2014, 02:57:48 PM
I am so sick of this issue.  Yes, there were more conservative groups targeted than liberal, but they all deserved the extra scrutiny.  In fact, I believe that office did not go far enough - they should have denied tax exempt status to all of them, conservative or liberal. 

No, they just slashed the budget for embassy security, but I'm sure that had no effect at all.

Don't get me wrong, I am extremely disappointed with the administration regarding privacy and national security.  But Congress overwhelmingly passing the PATRIOT Act and then renewing definitely contributed to the current climate.

Please explain how the government shutdown and repeatedly going to the brink on the debt ceiling is a positive thing?

It takes two sides to cause gridlock.

To suggest we are in the same situation America was in pre-Revolution is again hyperbolic and irresponsible.  It is extreme statements like this from both sides that have caused America to become so polarized and politicians unwilling to compromise.

There are definite problems with the ACA, but reform was needed.  Maybe if the opposition actually put forth ideas that could lead to bettering America instead of wasting legislative time holding dozens and dozens of purely symbolic votes repealing the act, it could be improved.

My comments seem to be getting under your skin skin.   ;)
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: skin on March 02, 2014, 06:09:51 PM
Not your comments in particular, because your comments are unfortunately all too common.  The shift in the political climate that has lead to your comments being common is what gets under my skin.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 02, 2014, 06:25:27 PM
Good, I was beginning to think you were going to dissect and analyze everything I say here. I just have no problem seeing the truth for what it is, no matter how uncomfortable it is to me or others. No offense.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Hikari on March 02, 2014, 07:24:55 PM
Quote from: Nikko on March 02, 2014, 06:25:27 PM
Good, I was beginning to think you were going to dissect and analyze everything I say here. I just have no problem seeing the truth for what it is, no matter how uncomfortable it is to me or others. No offense.

The problem is, your "truth" isn't necessarily my truth. Without the ability to come to any consensus and agree on any sort of facts this country isn't going to be anything but divided.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Yukari-sensei on March 02, 2014, 08:07:16 PM
Quote from: Jamie D on March 02, 2014, 05:38:30 AM
It takes two to tango, hon.  Gridlock is the result of the past couple of general elections.  I would much rather have a Congress that holds the line against the excesses of 2009-2011.  And things look like Harry Reid will be the Minority leader in the Senate starting January 2015.
I think you are dreaming... and I wonder what you will think when you wake up to reality...

Demographics are swaying people away from your party and ideology. One, because of conservatives themselves (way too pugilistic and unwilling to modernize to current social attitudes), two is because conservative economic policies have shown to be completely ineffective, and three, millenials are keenly aware of who screwed them out of the American Dream... socialist is not a dirty word to them.

Face it, the tactics of McCarthyism, using fear to shake voters into your way of thinking doesn't work anymore... out of certain areas of the south anyway... :-\
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: MadeleineG on March 02, 2014, 10:17:33 PM
Quote from: Yukari-sensei on March 02, 2014, 08:07:16 PM
I think you are dreaming... and I wonder what you will think when you wake up to reality...

Demographics are swaying people away from your party and ideology. One, because of conservatives themselves (way too pugilistic and unwilling to modernize to current social attitudes), two is because conservative economic policies have shown to be completely ineffective, and three, millenials are keenly aware of who screwed them out of the American Dream... socialist is not a dirty word to them.

Face it, the tactics of McCarthyism, using fear to shake voters into your way of thinking doesn't work anymore... out of certain areas of the south anyway... :-\

This is key word here. As a group, the millenials are further left than any generation for decades and the largest since the boomers. Good or bad, there's little denying a hard shift left's en route.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: VeryGnawty on March 03, 2014, 01:18:43 AM
Quote from: G:W:Y:N:N:E on March 02, 2014, 10:17:33 PM
As a group, the millenials are further left than any generation for decades and the largest since the boomers. Good or bad, there's little denying a hard shift left's en route.

Actually, I think the trend for politics going left has more to do with what the right is doing.  The thing is that a lot of the conservative millenials are not wingnuts.  So, anytime a candidate runs their mouth on some religious nonsense, or starts talking about morality, or trickle-down economics, they basically lose almost all of the millenial vote.  A lot of millenial conservatives are closer aligned with libertarians than they are with Republicans.

It's not so much the left gaining ground, but it also has to do with the right shooting themselves in the foot.  It actually looks like people are becoming more liberal, when in reality they are just becoming less stupid on the topic of government and politics.  There are conservative millenials, but I've met few who buy into the right wing conservative rhetoric.  Meanwhile, Republicans think that they aren't conservative enough, so they have to out-conserve other Republicans by going even more right-wing.  The extreme right wing is a dying dinosaur.  The extreme left has a much higher chance of gaining significant ground in this country, and that chance will likely increase if the Republicans don't start being more moderate, because people will just keep voting Democrat.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jamie D on March 03, 2014, 02:02:46 AM
Quote from: G:W:Y:N:N:E on March 02, 2014, 10:17:33 PM
This is key word here. As a group, the millenials are further left than any generation for decades and the largest since the boomers. Good or bad, there's little denying a hard shift left's en route.

New poll shows conservatives outnumber liberals in 47 states (http://www.examiner.com/article/new-poll-shows-conservatives-outnumber-liberals-47-states)

Examiner.com | David W. Thornton
01 February 2014

A new Gallup poll released on January 31 shows that conservatives outnumber liberals in 47 states. Although liberal identification has reached a new high in the wake of Barack Obama's reelection, conservatives still make up the largest ideological group in most states. Nevertheless, the average gap between conservatives and liberals shrank from 15.9 to 14.6 percent since 2012.

The three states in which liberals outnumbered conservatives were Hawaii, Massachusetts and Vermont. Other states that rounded out the liberal top ten were Delaware, New York, Oregon, Maine, California, and New Jersey. The District of Columbia is the most liberal "state" with 38 percent of its population identifying as liberal....

The swing states from recent elections all boast a double-digit conservative advantage leading one to question why Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, and Ohio all voted for Barack Obama. According to Gallup, the answer lies with moderate voters.

Even though conservatives are the largest ideological group in most states as well as nationally, the fact that they make up less than 50 percent of the electorate means that Republicans need to reach out to moderate voters, something that they have had problems with in recent years.

Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Hikari on March 03, 2014, 07:01:38 AM
Quote from: VeryGnawty on March 03, 2014, 01:18:43 AM
Actually, I think the trend for politics going left has more to do with what the right is doing.  The thing is that a lot of the conservative millenials are not wingnuts.  So, anytime a candidate runs their mouth on some religious nonsense, or starts talking about morality, or trickle-down economics, they basically lose almost all of the millenial vote.  A lot of millenial conservatives are closer aligned with libertarians than they are with Republicans.

It's not so much the left gaining ground, but it also has to do with the right shooting themselves in the foot.  It actually looks like people are becoming more liberal, when in reality they are just becoming less stupid on the topic of government and politics.  There are conservative millenials, but I've met few who buy into the right wing conservative rhetoric.  Meanwhile, Republicans think that they aren't conservative enough, so they have to out-conserve other Republicans by going even more right-wing.  The extreme right wing is a dying dinosaur.  The extreme left has a much higher chance of gaining significant ground in this country, and that chance will likely increase if the Republicans don't start being more moderate, because people will just keep voting Democrat.

Virginia which just recently was considered a red state has two democratic senators, a democratic AG, Deomcratic Lt. Gov, Democratic Gov, a de facto democratic majority in the state senate. Republicans only control the state house, and the US house reps... I feel this hasn't been due to economics, or business policy or anything like that, it has had everything to do with social conservatism becoming very unpopular.

This last election was a perfect example of how the Republican party hasn't been keeping up with the cultural changes in Virginia. First the AG decided to challenge the Lt. Gov (who was more moderate) by convincing the state party leaders of the Republican party to switch to nomination via convention rather than a primary vote (VA law allows parties to change how they want to select a candidate). This basically assured the AG to get the nomination...

The problem with that was the AG (also the gov. candidate now, VA doesn't require him to resign to run) had fought to try to bring back anti-sodomy laws, he issued a memo telling state run institutions that they could fire gays if they wanted, he pushed to have women penetrated by an ultrasound wand before they could get an abortion not for any legitimate medical need. He then ran with lt. gov candidate who openly stated yoga was the path to Satan. Of course they all lost their elections and democrats swept the state offices.

These people wanted the government to get right into the bedroom with you and enforce morality, conservatives who want small, effective government don't want the government in the bedroom enforcing morality any more than liberals do. Until Republicans learn that they will slowly lose there grip at least on Virginia.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Jess42 on March 03, 2014, 07:38:36 AM
Quote from: VeryGnawty on March 03, 2014, 01:18:43 AM
Actually, I think the trend for politics going left has more to do with what the right is doing.  The thing is that a lot of the conservative millenials are not wingnuts.  So, anytime a candidate runs their mouth on some religious nonsense, or starts talking about morality, or trickle-down economics, they basically lose almost all of the millenial vote.  A lot of millenial conservatives are closer aligned with libertarians than they are with Republicans.

It's not so much the left gaining ground, but it also has to do with the right shooting themselves in the foot.  It actually looks like people are becoming more liberal, when in reality they are just becoming less stupid on the topic of government and politics.  There are conservative millenials, but I've met few who buy into the right wing conservative rhetoric.  Meanwhile, Republicans think that they aren't conservative enough, so they have to out-conserve other Republicans by going even more right-wing.  The extreme right wing is a dying dinosaur.  The extreme left has a much higher chance of gaining significant ground in this country, and that chance will likely increase if the Republicans don't start being more moderate, because people will just keep voting Democrat.

Actually I think the extremes on both sides are dying dinosaurs. The job situation is not good right now. The affordable care act forcing young healthy people to purchase a product they really don't even need. For example I never even considered health insurance until I was in my mid thirties. Why pay for something that I don't need if anything happened it would usually be from an accident at work or on the road and then other insurance would take care of that. Not too many young people with heart problems, lung problems or just generally in bad health. So now, compliments from the left, they have to pay for something most don't even need or will ever use. So it the truth be known the left has had the reigns but seems like more and more people are not liking the change. As for the right, social issues will be there downfall. Look at the bill that was vetoed by the Arizona Governer. How a bill like that ever got on the floor is beyond my comprehension. I do believe in religious feedom as if a clergy person doesn't want to marry a gay couple that is their right but a business refusing service to gays, not right and a very slippery slope. I really don't believe that this country is a far left or far right country. I do believe it is more middle than anything and goes left of center slightly and right of center slightly at times and right now it is too polarized to get anything done which is a good thing because crazy legislation won't pass or shouldn't because that is the way it's supposed to work. So yes the right needs to get with the times on social issues and the left needs to get it together with personal responsibilities meaning if I take a chance without insurance it is my fault and will have to pay. If I don't work being healthy and able, I don't eat.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: amZo on March 03, 2014, 08:34:06 AM
Quote from: Hikari on March 02, 2014, 07:24:55 PM
The problem is, your "truth" isn't necessarily my truth. Without the ability to come to any consensus and agree on any sort of facts this country isn't going to be anything but divided.

Hikari, that's absolutely true. What I believe to be true isn't necessarily true, yes! And I understand this 100%. It's why I am able to change my view on anything if information is provided to change my mind. The reason is I have no ideology (well unless believing in freedom is one). Once people go down the ideological path, it's pointless trying to rationalize with them.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: MadeleineG on March 03, 2014, 06:59:08 PM
Quote from: Jamie D on March 03, 2014, 02:02:46 AM
New poll shows conservatives outnumber liberals in 47 states (http://www.examiner.com/article/new-poll-shows-conservatives-outnumber-liberals-47-states)

I don't think conservative vs. liberal is the issue. Millennial's identify with "socialism" (social democracy, not communism) far more than their generational predecessors, and, notoriously, more than capitalism.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: kariann330 on April 25, 2014, 01:46:17 AM
Quote from: AshleeLC on February 28, 2014, 05:34:34 PM
Seeing as recently the President issued an Executive order regarding the minimum wage, I was wondering what your opinonis are of him issuing an Executive Order on Gay and Lesbian marriages as well as issues regarding the trans community, such as recognizing marriages on the federal level, if the states wont allow it, or something of that sort.

Seeing how this country is a Constitutional Republic, not a dictatorship or democracy, even if Obummer did issue an Order of that type, 1 Congress could easily shoot it down, and 2 since it wouldn't be recognized as a Constitutional amendment none of the 50 states, 54 if you ask the idiot in the Whitehouse, would have to recognize it as law and could continue to pass state laws that directly contradict any law he creates with his not so magic pen.

Hate to rain on your parade if your hoping that will happen, but honestly I see Feinstein getting a nationwide firearms confiscation before that ever happens. Simply because we are a nation of voters and the ultra religious still out number those who want same sex marriages.....even if it did become law, good luck finding a pastor or priest who will do the wedding.
Title: Re: Executive Order Possibility?
Post by: Androgynous_Machine on April 25, 2014, 02:21:22 PM
Quote from: AshleeLC on February 28, 2014, 05:34:34 PM
Seeing as recently the President issued an Executive order regarding the minimum wage, I was wondering what your opinonis are of him issuing an Executive Order on Gay and Lesbian marriages as well as issues regarding the trans community, such as recognizing marriages on the federal level, if the states wont allow it, or something of that sort.

I think it will be a long time before transfolk see any sort of real discussion in the banter of the vox populi.

I'm not sure how other trans people feel but I'm absolutely sick of LGBT groups, why?  Because we do the squeezing with the gays and lesbians and ONLY gays and lesbians are getting any juice.

Gay marriage was never really much of an issue for trans people, if you had a life partner you just never change your legal sex or you change it to match whatever applicable laws.  The repeal of DADT meant utterly nothing to transsexuals.  And all but 3 states do not have anti-discrimination laws based on gender identity, it is ALL sexual orientation.

What major breakthrough politically and legally has happened in the last 10 years for transsexuals? Nothing.
Who is getting all the love (By love I mean, money, political power, rights, and anti-discrimination laws)? Homosexuals.

So excuse me while I feel quite cynical about LGBT groups.

-AM