dotEvan

So Igor brought me a “birthday salami.”  Uhh.. right

While driving home the other day, I saw a few homes in my neighborhood that proudly advertise “Yes on 8”.  If you don’t know, Proposition 8 is a California initiative to remove the state supreme court upheld right for same sex marriage.

I am not gay, nor do I actively promote the gay and lesbian cause. They can do whatever they want behind closed doors, just the same as I can do whatever I want behind closed doors. Yes, marriage is a sacred union of two people. Why does anyone care whether it’s between a hetero or homosexual couple? What place do I have, personally, or the state as a whole, to deny people that right? To deny the right of two people getting married based on their sexual orientation due to your personal beliefs is quite a departure from the cry of tolerance that this country is striving to achieve.

Proponents of Prop 8 may say that they don’t want homosexual marriages because a marriage is between a man and a woman. Ok, fine. Now, how do we extend the same rights and legal status to a gay or lesbian couple if they can’t get married. Proponents once again chime in: let’s give them separate, but equal civil unions. Right. “Separate, but equal.” …because that worked so well for our country with segregation.

It’s time to cut the crap. Who cares what other people do behind closed doors; it’s not your problem. The United States strives to be a country of equality, of opportunity, and of tolerance. When you advertise your support of Prop 8, you demean this country’s values and spread the support of intolerance.

Join me, and many others, in defeating Prop 8. It would be un-American to do otherwise.

Let’s move into the realm of the hypothetical. Let’s say that Obama gets elected for President. Not only does he get one of the most powerful jobs on the face of the planet, but he also receives a damaged economy, high unemployment rates, states on the verge of bankruptcy and a stalled mortgage market. Frankly, I’m surprised that anybody really wants that job.

Nevertheless, the 850 billion dollar (700 + 150 in sweeteners) bailout package was passed. Within the next few weeks the government will be nursing failing banks and Wall Street back to health with money that will need to be repaid by tax payers. It will be the job of the next President (Obama or McCain) to assist in moving the money around to cover these debts. I believe that it is inevitable that taxes will be raised in order to make up the difference.

Now, in this hypothetical situation, we have Obama (a Democrat) in office, raising taxes. Yet, I have very little doubt that the Republicans will be fighting tooth and nail against tax increases. It’s in their blood. Not only that, but they will be blaming the Democrats for the financial mess that the previous Republican administration has left. The next president will be taking the blame and be responsible for this horrendous mess, and I bet Obama will take much more guff from politicians and pundits than McCain ever would.

Either way, the next President will have some tough decisions to make, and I don’t envy that job one bit.