Three Suggestions for Protecting Same-Sex Marriage
Lost in all the publicity about post-election No on 8 protests is the question of whether the 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot this year in California will see their marriages voided by the courts. Protecting these marriages is essential as a matter of humanity, of avoiding a bigger legal mess. Here are three suggestions for how to respond:
1. Show some decency, same-sex marriage opponents.
The Yes on 8 folks — the opponents of same-sex marriage — would be wise not to challenge these marriages in court. It would be both the decent and the politically wise thing to do. By not challenging the marriages, the Yes on 8 crowd could demonstrate that its opposition to gay unions is really about their desire to protect marriage — and not, as many of us suspect, about hatred of gay people. If the Yes on 8 backers go ahead and force the voiding of these marriages, that action likely would boomerang against their cause. I’m hearing from some conservatives who favor allowing the existing marriages to stand, but, given the current thinking on the right (and the anger about No on 8 protests targeting churches), I doubt these cooler heads will prevail.
Runaway Taxpayers
Seems that Governor Schwarzenegger wants to help out his old Hollywood friends with millions of dollars in tax breaks. He makes a case that lower taxes on film and television companies will reverse the trend of runaway production. Currently, California is losing out to at least 40 other states and Canada that are luring away production companies with very attractive tax incentives.
Five years ago, 66% of feature film production took place in California. Last year this was reduced to just 31% and the governor wants to help an industry that supports about 250,000 employees.
While a non-critical evaluation might make this tax cut seem a good idea — encourage a major business to remain in our state and retain taxpaying employees — it is coming from the same governor who is supporting tax increases on all Californians.
Sundown for California
Scholar and analyst Joel Kotkin gives his perspective on California’s troubles in an article entitled, "Sundown for California."
Kotkin writes, "The real problem lies in the decline of the state’s political culture. "Our society may be evolving spectacularly but our politics are devolving," suggests (Kevin) Starr, the state’s most eminent historian. "California is in no way a role model for anyone from outside the state."
Read the entire piece here.