Well said. We may not always like the results of a democratic election, but if we don't then we can get to vote again in however many years depending on the system in question. And that is what makes a democracy.
And why do I do this to myself at 1:20am in the morning?
they were made by the approved procedures of modern Western democracy and received a majority vote.In general, "approved procedures of modern Western democracy" do not include putting minority rights up to a vote, nor do they include an end run around the current system of government
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The primary issue with Prop 8 is that it never should have been put to a majority vote in the first place.
I've had the same thoughts considering the popular vote of the president was about the same percentages. But it really isn't the issue. The key here is that minority rights were put to majority vote which is unjust and goes against, IMO, some of the key foundations this country was founded on. Something about folks on some boats fleeing religious persecution... ;-)
You can basically do an 'insert here' for African Americans, Jewish, Native American, etc.
For me, this just confirms American hypocrisy. We live in a society where people think it's fine to limit the rights of its own citizens, while at the same time meddling in other people's civil wars to impose a system of government onto them that we don't even have ourselves (social rights, constitutional guarantees for minority representation in government, etc.). For an aggressively moral country, we certainly don't practice what we preach.
Then again, it's only religious minorities we seem to care about in other countries as long as they have oil, so I guess that makes it all okay
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You know, I get your argument. Normally I'd agree with you. But beyond what others have mentioned, should we merely sit back and accept laws that rewrite our Constitution? Or should we step up and say "this is wrong."?
The main problem is the fact that we let the separation of church and state get too blurry. The church should hold non-legally binding marriage ceremonies. The state should require a legally binding contract of civil union. You should be free to choose which options you want as long as you understand the tax issues if you choose only marriage. But that will not happen for a while because people who think only specific genetic qualities don't want to be lumped in the same legal rights' box as the gays.
However, it's not up to me. It was up to the American (Californian) public, and they voted 'Yes.' Overturning it would open a big can of worms about the nature of democracy and democratic decision-making - even a democracy that makes decisions that are innately unfair.Democracy isn't always fair, and I don't think we should cherry-pick what to follow and what not to. But just because a law passed does not mean it can not be put back on the ballot and defeated or declared unconstitutional by the California Supreme court
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And why do I do this to myself at 1:20am in the morning?
Not sure you actually want me to answer that? :-)
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The primary issue with Prop 8 is that it never should have been put to a majority vote in the first place.
I've had the same thoughts considering the popular vote of the president was about the same percentages. But it really isn't the issue. The key here is that minority rights were put to majority vote which is unjust and goes against, IMO, some of the key foundations this country was founded on. Something about folks on some boats fleeing religious persecution... ;-)
You can basically do an 'insert here' for African Americans, Jewish, Native American, etc.
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Then again, it's only religious minorities we seem to care about in other countries as long as they have oil, so I guess that makes it all okay ( ... )
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The main problem is the fact that we let the separation of church and state get too blurry. The church should hold non-legally binding marriage ceremonies. The state should require a legally binding contract of civil union. You should be free to choose which options you want as long as you understand the tax issues if you choose only marriage. But that will not happen for a while because people who think only specific genetic qualities don't want to be lumped in the same legal rights' box as the gays.
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