Gay Marriage

This is infuriating.  It's been in the making for a while.  I'm really here to comment on idiotic politicians and clergy (from that article):

Such marriages run counter to "the intent of Almighty God," said the Rev. Tom Parrish, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. "I've sat at the bedside of many [dying] gay men. I deeply love them, but I deeply disagree with them."

What exactly do you disagree with, Tom? Do you disagree with their gayness?  If so I disagree with your hair.  How stupid! 

The Rev. Bob Battle, pastor of Berean Church in the shadow of the Capitol, also said gay marriage runs counter to the Adam and Eve creation story in Genesis. A longtime politically conservative civil rights leader, he added that, "I don't think this has anything to do with civil rights."

According to the dictionary:

civil rights

pl.n.

The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination.

So apparently it DOES have to do with civil rights, Bob.   By definition. "[. . .]and freedom from discrimination"

"We should give this to the public to decide," Limmer said.
"This is the time for Minnesota to have this public dialogue."

 So can we have your paychecks back, since you're offloading your work onto the ballot?  Hint: This is a constitutional republic, not a direct democracy.  One of the main goals of our system of government is to protect the minority from the fucking mob of people against it.


Seriously you homophobes, go fuck yourselves.

~Nic

Burqanstocks

So I was reminded tonight of the French ban on the Burqa (among other religious garb).  This has annoyed me since I found out about it.  The law is just as repressive as the symbolism it seeks to destroy.  I am not a religious scholar in any sense, so I won't pretend I am able to delve into what the Burqa means or symbolizes.  I do know that in the defense of civil liberties, any and all garments (try me) should be allowed, provided full consent of the 'wearer'.  This is the same civil liberty stance that has put me in awkward positions such as supporting Fred Phelps and his ridiculous crusade against homosexuality.

Speaking of homosexuality, I am reminded of my liberal cohorts who have been seduced into answering the 'timeless' question of whether or not homosexuality (among other things) is "genetic" or "natural" or if it's "programmed" by culture.  That's a stupid question.  Stop answering, it doesn't matter.  Let's say it's programmed (like religion): people have, in this country (supposedly) the autonomy to believe, think, and do whatever they want (this is obviously arguable, but only because we tolerate the closed minded who in turn tolerate nothing.. true liberalism).  If someone were to choose to be gay, that's their right.. a civil liberty.  If someone were born gay, it is their right to 'be' as gay as they please (don't read into that).. also a civil liberty.  The answer is the same, so long as you ask the right question: Why should someone be denied the right to do whateverthefuck they want so long as no person is hurt (against their will), and no (sacred) property is hurt.  I could go on for pages and pages, but I'll stop here.

The more you try to police people into thinking like you do (regardless of intent), the more resistance you will find.  It's almost as if we're "programmed" that way.

~Nic

Could it be?

The Rapture has begun?  Or should people pay attention to the weather, and seek shelter?  It doesn't make sense why so many people have died from these storms.. Maybe it's the building codes?  Resistance to the gubermint telling trailer park owners to build tornado shelters? IDK.. I am grasping at straws here.

~Nic

Thanks balloon juice. Lookup your favorite large donor

http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml

Thanks Balloon Juice!

~Nic

Can I get a McFlurry with proles?

McDonald’s “Hiring Day” Turns Wild After Car Runs Over People

sad

~Nic

S&P VS GOP: Nothing makes sense anymore.

It would appear as though we're in a positive feedback loop.

(CNN) -- Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook for the nation's long-term debt Monday, saying the political grousing over the deficit could put more pressure on the still shaky economic recovery.

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 (FOX News)South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint warns he will filibuster vote on debt ceiling unless lawmakers add a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, adding a new twist in deficit battle.

 Grab your asses.

~Nic

**EDIT In another twist, checking the  10 Year T-note (^TNX), the interest rate was DOWN today about 1.15% when I checked.  WTF?!?!?

**EDIT EDIT It appears that Krugman beat me to this by hours: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/sp-can-call-bond-vigilantes-from-the-vasty-deep/

Class warfare.

Here we fucking go again (I feel like I should come up with a new cliché).  You'd think after spending most of my conscious life thinking about and debating politics, I would learn that there's virtually no movement of ideas within an ideology.. yet hope springs.. ephemeral..  generally in fits and starts, if at all.  Anyhow:

Millionaire A states: "If I really have to change my lifestyle because I'm being overly taxed, then I'm kind of doing something wrong to begin with. . ."  

Millionaire B states: "Increasing taxes on the wealthy means punishing the more fortunate and successful people of a society, and more so, violates their free will to independently help individuals who they would like to help . .  Punishing success in any field is evil." 

 A: It would seem that A wasn't born with a silver spoon in his ass.

B: It would seem that B should see a proctologist. 

Here's a cheap shot: Is punishing success at being a burglar evil?  No?  So where then is our arbitrary line to be drawn?  Perhaps some reduction should be applied... or maybe defining our terms: the greatest weapon against spin/propaganda.  I am looking too deep into this, but there's a point hiding in there somewhere.

I'm ignoring the infantile claim that such a thing as "free will" exists, and specifically in the way it's being used.   "Free will"?  I dare you to reduce it.  Then define it. 

~Nic