(no subject)

[phycokrusk]

California voters (those of you who read this journal), come election day, vote no on Prop. 8. I'll outline some points below, but I promise to try to avoid a "ripple of evil" lecture:

1. Claim: If Prop. 8 does not pass, then churches will lose their tax exempt status.
   • Fact: No, they won't. Churches haven't lost their tax exempt status as is (before Prop. 8), and the text of 8 includes nothing about churches and taxes. This is a red herring.
2. Claim: If Prop. 8 does not pass, then same-sex marriage will be forcibly taught in schools.
   • Fact: Marriage, in general, is not taught in schools, and same-sex marriage is not being "forcibly" taught in them right now (before 8). The text of 8 includes nothing about school curricula. Another red herring.
3. Claim: Prop. 8 is about protecting freedom of speech.
   • Fact: Prop. 8 has nothing to do with freedom of speech.
4. Claim: Prop. 8 is about protecting freedom of religion.
   • Fact: The text of Prop. 8 only includes legally defining "marriage" and has nothing to do with freedom of religion.
5. Claim: Prop. 8 is unconstitutional.
   • Fact: The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By the text of the 14th Amendment, Prop. 8 is unconstitutional.

There are probably a dozen more points, sure. But the ones above are, I feel, the most relevant to the matter at hand (particularly the first four, since these are the ones people most frequently use to illustrate why it is good). There are other Propositions to be voted on, but Prop. 8, probably because of what it is, has been getting the most press and also has been getting the most people out in the street with signs either supporting or opposing it. Vote the way that you think is the right way, but please consider all the facts before you vote, and keep in mind that I'm attempting to convince everyone who might read this to vote "no" on it.

I am purposely leaving this entry unlocked, so that people not on my f-list may read and comment on it. Keep in mind that my opposition to Prop. 8 does not make the facts more or less factual; argumentum ad personam is not a valid criticism of an argument.