Gay Marriage will be legal nationwide eventually. It will be later rather than sooner.
There's a connect (as opposed to a disconnect - folks are too busy these days to be bothered with "tion"s) between the financial crisis and that of the homosexual community which concerns everyone: $.
From the Official Voter Information Guide for the California General Election, 2008, page 55 :
FISCAL EFFECTS
Because marriage between individuals of the same sex is currently valid in California, there would likely be an increase in spending on weddings by same-sex couples in California over the next few years. This would result in increased revenue, primarily sales tax revenue, to state and local governments.
By specifying that marriage between individuals of the same sex is not valid or recognized, this measure could result in revenue loss, mainly from sales taxes, to this loss could potentially total in the several tens of millions of dollars. Over the long run, this measure would likely have little fiscal impact on state and local governments.
Whatever "long run" means, we're never sure. The short run matters most in economics. How we doin' on that front? Perhaps the No campaign would've done better emphasizing this point, but thats 30/20 hindsight.
Californians live in the sixth or seventh largest economy in the world (we often trade places with France. They have universal health care). On November 4th we said no to tens of millions of tax dollars; on the same day we said yes to a $9 billion bond for a high speed rail system, the plans of which have not been solidified. Don't forget all the fires we had this year, and are currently having, as of this posting. And a whole bunch of other expensive items for which we plan to pay, even in non-election years (teachers, prisons, etc.)
Let's elect a black guy president, not let the gays marry, and build a new train set. Welcome to Kha-lee-fhor-nya.
We've Seen This Film Before...
Impending court battles and term limits point to a maybe on 8. The governor, for what it's worth, urged the courts to overturn the legislation. Proposition 8 may one day suffer a similar fate to that of 1994's prop. 187 (another example of how California is ahead of the curve: we've been passing laws against illegal immigrants long before it was fashionable).
Prop 187 was tied, bound, and gagged in the appeals process for four years before being retracted by newly-elected governor Gray Davis. How much did that process cost taxpayers?
Our Children Is Learning
Embracing democracy has become trendy in many circles lately. "The people have spoken" is a phrase often heard after any controversial ballot initiative is decided. The subtext of that phrase falls under one of two categories: a) the majority of voters made a well-informed decision, or b) the amount of information the majority brought to the booth is irrelevant.
Again, from the voter pamphlet, this time under the "Argument In Favor Section", page 56 (emphasis theirs):
...State law may require teachers to instruct children as young as kindergarteners (sic) about marriage. (Education Code sec. 51890.) If the gay marriage ruling is not overturned, TEACHERS COULD BE REQUIRED to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage.
Here's the full text of the section: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=edc&group=51001-52000&file=51890-51891
The majority of voters, upon reading Sec. 51890 (a) (1) (D) (sorry, bad citing, didn't go to law school), agreed with the financiers' of the Yes campaign interpretation of the law. Or they voted yes for some other reason.
Two asides: 1) If you attended, or attend public school in California, and you skipped that link, go back and click it. Try and remember being taught any of those health subjects. It's either your fault or the teachers'. 2) Anyone else find it interesting that people who care so much about a child's education had an argument printed in an official state voters' guide which misspelled the word "kindergartners"?
This much is true: 2008 has been a tough go for gay republican mortgage brokers.
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