NY's Gay Marriage Vote

I thought I discussed this topic before but sifting through this blog, I cannot seem to find it. Therefore I'm formally stating my position now.

As many New York State residents know, the NYS Senate is trying to muster the votes to legalize Gay Marriage. The last time it was up for a vote (back in 2009), it was decisively defeated as political payback for the then unpopular, "unelected" Governor Paterson.

I want to start by saying state government should completely get out of the marriage racket & simply give everyone who applies a "civil union." That way the religious institutions can keep the "sanctity of marriage" intact & approve or deny those they either deem worthy or not worthy as they see fit.

That's not remotely going to happen though. Religious institutions have convinced themselves that marriage is sacred yet they allow annulments & divorces.

Why do I approve of gay marriage?

If a gay or lesbian couple wish to be miserable for the rest of the lives just like a hetero couple is, who am I to tell them they can't?

Seriously though, withing the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution lies the Equal Protection Clause. The government "must provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction." Unmarried gay couples do not have the legal right to decide next of kin medical issue in regards to their partner. They often cannot legally be put on their partners insurance plans. In many states, they are barred from adopting children. Its modern Jim Crow'ism & a wrong that needs immediate righting.

My favorite argument revolves around the revenue. NYS is facing a $6 billion budget shortfall, if not more. Married couples need a marriage license for their union to be legal. Licenses cost money. Since fickle NY'ers complain about having high taxes yet don't want their services cut, we gotta get the money from somewhere. The windfall from new marriage licenses seems like the perfect fit in helping meet SOME of those budgetary needs.

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In other news...
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This is Meagan, taken back in December.

It may not reflect in this image but she's a very creative spirit & an accomplished photographer in her own right. Nor does it hurt that her love of books has earned her a special place in my heart. :)



Feel free to comment away if you so desire.

the State Government We Deserve

I was struggling to come up w/ a topic to discuss in my latest blog.

NY Governor Paterson's rumored "shocking revelations" that were to appear in the NY Times, only they never materialized...but Planet Albany & MOFYC did a better job of it than me (& were quicker). The mid-Atlantic snowstorms were considered until I saw the following clip from the Daily Show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Unusually Large Snowstorm
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

The winner was this link provided initially by MOFYC.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/department-of-irony-1.html#more

I just find it ironic that a couple of lawmakers get into a fight about disciplinary action over a guy who was convicted of misdemeanor assault charges for assaulting his girlfriend. I'm not sure if that's referring to (Monserrate) slashing her face w/ a piece of glass or dragging her through a hotel lobby or both.

Its doubly ironic that State Senator Parker was one of only 8 senators who voted "no" for Monserrate's expulsion when he himself pled "not guilty" in a felony assault case working its way through the courts.

W/ low lives as our elected officials combined w/ the NY State Legislature having a higher incumbency rating than Communist China, maybe its the governing body we the voters deserve.

*sigh*

In other news...

This is Corey taken near one of my outdoor haunts sometime this past Fall.



Feel free to opine, critique, whatever. Just please leave at least a name so I can address you if I choose to reply.