Get government out of the marriage business!

Before addressing the title of this post I’d like to give a little background on why I wrote this. The Republican Party, for many years, seems to have no concern for the trade or budget deficits, the health care crisis, the declining middle class, or even border security. The three main campaign platforms they use to rally their base are gun control, flag burning, and of course, gay marriage. Now people have said that they think I am homophobic – I tend to disagree and just think I am an enthusiastic heterosexual individual. What I do believe in is equal protection under the law for everyone, which is fundamental to our Constitution. So the question is – how can we extend marriage to everyone and get the conservative Christians to go along with it?

To start with, I think we need look at the current situation. Under the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, marriage is explicitly defined as a union of one man and one woman – federal law does not recognize same-sex marriage. This leaves it up to the states to define marriage, each in it’s own way. Since 2004 only the State of Massachusetts recognizes same-sex marriages, while nine states and the District of Columbia grant legal unions which allow for varying rights regarding same-sex couples. On the other hand, 26 states have constitutional amendments explicitly barring the recognition of same-sex marriages, and every election cycle sees new measures on state ballots trying to change these numbers both ways.

What a mess!

I guess same-sex couples married in Massachusetts are trapped in that state! To add to the confusion, some companies offer benefits to same-sex couples but most don’t offer anything at all. This does not reflect equal protection under the law! Why can’t we have a federal legal standard that allows all people to enter into marriage and enjoy these constitutional protections?

The answer, of course, is embodied in conservative Christians who think marriage is only for heterosexual people. So how do we fix this and attempt to limit opposition? This brings me back to the title of this post. I propose we get government out of the marriage business! How would this work you ask? First we pass a new federal law that only recognizes civil unions which would have the same protections as current legally defined marriages. This would assure legal standing for all couples in all states, effectively forcing all companies to deal with their employees equally.

Now that we have equal protection under the law for everyone, what about marriage? We simply give marriage back to the church. If a couple wants to be viewed as married, they would have to get blessings from their church. If a church does not think marriage applies to same-sex couples, then that couple would not receive a marriage license in that situation. If same-sex couples wish to be viewed as married, they would simply need to join a church that recognizes their situation.

I believe this would make it hard for conservative Christians to oppose gay marriage. Could they say other religions can’t sanction marriage for everyone? We would be using freedom of religion, separation of church and state, and equal protection under the law to solve this issue. So let’s just get government out of marriage once for all and end the debate on this.

I have never heard anyone take this angle on this issue and believe it is original thinking on my part, therefore, I felt I needed to write a post to take credit if this idea ever takes off. Does this idea have merit or is it unworkable? Looking forward to comments of criticism, approval, and rants regarding this post.

Is Larry Craig Kidding…He’s Coming Back?

 

Senator Craig mingled with fellow senators, cast several votes and had lunch with the same Republican caucus members who withheld support for him as his latest sex scandal exploded last month after a police sting operation in a Minneapolis airport bathroom. Senator Craig has said he will step down on September 30th – unless he can get his guilty plea in the case in Minnesota overturned by then. Amazing what lawyering up does to people. 

“Senator Craig is here representing Idaho, working on transition and meeting with his legal team,” said the senator’s spokesman Dan Whiting.

I’m a bit confused. Who in Idaho does Craig represent exactly? Does he represent gay men jonesing in public johns for a quick hit? Does he represent liars who abuse power and priveledge to weasel out of trouble when their caught dead – to – rights? Does he represent people who can’t accept their sexual identity and lead double lives as they cheat on their wives and deceive their children while they pursue their clandestine gay passions? 

Craig has taken conservative denial and ignorance to its absurd yet logical conclusion. The man is a collassal embarassment to Congressional office, but has let the drunken effect of unbridled power lead him into a selfish and destructive decision. It is fitting that Craig has decided to resist the pressure from his own party to resign. In this momentus battle of rock-headedness, the Republican party will be taking it in the shorts (metaphorically of course), as the most fundamental of conservative mantras comes home to roost courtesy of the Larry Craig bandwagon…the fact that conservatives never admit they are ever wrong…even when they’re caught.

Larry Craig is a buffoon who should do the American public a favor and dissappear into the night, or into a public bathroom… whatever looks more appealing. Moreover, he should try to wrap his mind around the fact that his desire did not do him in, his arrogance did. He’s a pathetic shell of a leader who is trying to recapture his coveted mantle of power, only to mask his contempt for his constituents as he lies to them, his family, and his colleagues, in the name of using that power as a vehicle to pursue his sexual agenda, while laying waste to truth and integrity. I urge the Republican Party to do America a favor, and force this cancer out if he decides to stay beyond September 30th.