some fine questions...

my buddy truth-pain has asked some fine questions in his mini-rant in the previous post and although i haven't quite finished with my morning cuppa- i am going to try and address them- from my perspective. the post was about a minister in california fleecing his sheep- i mean congregation and the second was about mike huckabee running his mouth about gay marriage. i won't presume to give a synopsis of the rant- you should read it for yourself- it has some good questions.

as to the issue of gay marriage- currently- to my knowledge- states have differing criteria for getting a marriage certificate but once obtained, it is recognized federally. the same should be for same sex couples. there is no real rational reason to not make it so. i don't buy into the religion bullcrap. i won't get started on the religion crap because i have absolutely no respect for it- and it is not my intention at this time to go out of my way to offend anyone. at least not until after my second cuppa :)

as to the second prong of the rant- i mostly agree. i think that it is fairly obvious that there are certain things that fall under the purview of the federal government and that the constitution was designed with a balance between federal and states government. having said that, the american population ceded their rights to the federal government and the government- executive branch especially but not exclusively- capitalized on that and seized much more power. we really have no constitution anymore but folks don't realize that. we have given up our freedoms in the name of convenience and in the name of security. both based on egocentric laziness and self importance. we are so self centered and consumeristic these days that we can't be bothered to worry about what we have lost. once lost- they are that much harder to get back- if ever. so if you are still clinging to the outmoded notion that the democratic republic exists- i am sorry.

it is a simple matter really- civil unions should not be debated on religious grounds- but secular ones based in law. tough shit to the religious folks. you don't have to allow anyone you don't want to marry in your church now- so there would be no change. and this may come as a news flash- but there are millions of people in this country who don't believe in your god. this is our country too and if you don't like it- perhaps you should move to somewhere that shares your views. i have been told that many times. quid pro quo. and an FYI- my marriage doesn't effect yours in the slightest. chances are- you have never even heard of me. so- i doubt very much that civil unions will effect your marriage. if it does, then i think that your marriage probably has bigger issues.

thanks tp- for the thought-provoking rant :) i know that you are libertarian but you are right of where i am so it got the juices flowing. now- for the second morning cuppa....