How Do You Spell That?

Here's the reality, at least for me.

I don't think there's enough support for change. The puritanical right-wing fundamentalists drag the GOP politics further and further to the right *and* their numbers are growing, percentage-wise.

In other words, it doesn't matter how loudly we shout or how hard we jump up and down to our congressman, it's not going to make a difference. The GOP will, for the foreseeable future, have a stranglehold on the politics of this country. It has no reason to move to the middle, why should it? They've got all the support they need way out at the right hand side of the spectrum.

If the GOP isn't going to leave power any time soon, and they're not going to come to the center any time soon, and there isn't a darn thing the centrist and left minority can do to stop it, what the heck is the point of sitting around being treated like crap?

I mean Jesus, I'm not gay, but if I was, I'd feel like a black in the 1930's south right about now. 10 out of 11 states passing DOMA acts, the president calling for a national DOMA amendment to the constitution (and no sign at all that it wouldn't pass if it came down to it) ... it's perfectly legitimate to say that they can't defend their country, etc., etc.

At some point you cut your losses and get the heck out. You might seem silly for doing it, if the country suddenly reverses course and rights itself, or you might seem prophetic, like the Jews who got out of Germany before the shit started really coming down.

You see Gay Marriage as a core issue. You also bring up the analogy of "Jews leaving Germany" for your reasons to leave. As far as I know, there are several Federal, State, and Local laws that protect gay rights. Period. You can scream about how this country is going over the edge and will start Gay Concetration Camps (which btw, would look absolutely fabulous) but it's all at this point, conjecture (i.e. fancy word for crap). No Gays are being killed, mocked, or even asked for fashion tips. If you are gay, this is probably the best time to live on this planet.

I honestly do think you completely misread the vast majority of the "Religious Right". I don't know if you lump me into that group, which would be quite humorous since I haven't been to church in years. Most people in the "Religious Right" don't believe or follow what Jerry Falwell says. Just as people on the left don't buy into Ted Rall's view of the world. The vast majority of us are committed to human rights, decency, and fair play. Last time I checked, I think that's what you are looking for in a government.

I do believe that we as a people and a government have a right to defend the "common good". We all have different views on what is "the common good" whether that's saying marriage is between a man and a woman to barring people from walking around naked in public. These rules are based on our morality, which has been pretty much the rule since the beginning of recorded history.

While the country is obviously swinging to the right, I think your pessimistic view of events is clouding your judgement. I think you should stay, but if you want to go, that's obviously your own choice. I don't think that any other country in this world is going to offer you the "tax free, live my life as a please" haven without some other significant problems or restrictions.

"As far as I know, there are several Federal, State, and Local laws that protect gay rights."

... try to get married and have it recognized the same way as a heterosexual marriage
... try to openly serve in the military

I'm not looking for a "tax free, live my life as I please" haven, even though such would be nice. :-)

I'm looking for a place that actually doesn't go out of its way to alienate good chunks of its population. The GOP could give a rat's ass about the needs/wants/desires of anyone who didn't vote for them, because they don't need to.

That's a one-party system my friend, and if you can't tell that, you need a new set of glasses.

I'm looking for a place that actually doesn't go out of its way to alienate good chunks of its population. The GOP could give a rat's ass about the needs/wants/desires of anyone who didn't vote for them, because they don't need to.

And do you really think the Democrats would suddenly fill all of my needs? Bullshit, each party is selfish and serves it's own base, whether that's tax cuts for the rich or better welfare benefits for the poor. If you don't see that, well then we have bigger issues to discuss.

You vote for candidates that will serve your needs, whether that is lower taxes, better schools, or more jobs. We all have priorities in life, some more important that others. You say that gay marriage alienates a "good chunk" of the population which is hilarious since it:

a. Didn't officially exist until 2002.
b. Only affects 0.5% of the population (the percentage of the population that is gay and wants to be married).

I think the big disconnect between you and me on this is that I see this as a fringe issue and you see it as a core issue. I value freedom, but fighting for the freedom to get married which only provides financial benefits to the people involved seems small compared to national defense, schools, jobs, and the economy.

My "good chunk" reference is to the entire population who "voted blue", not to the folks involved in the gay marriage debate.

Sure we all vote for "who will serve our needs", and one of my basic needs is living in a free society, and I just don't see "freedom" as being part of Bush's agenda. I see subjugation of a minority class as part of his agenda. I see increased authority for the police-state as part of his agenda.

If you wanted jobs help, why the fuck would you vote for Bush? You know, the first president in years to LOSE jobs, ... poof, gone.

If you wanted help with schools, why would you vote for Bush, the man who championed NCLB, but then gave it dick for funding?

The economy? A joke. The dollar continues its plummetting fall in value against other world currencies.

If THOSE were your target issues my friend, you have voted for completely the wrong guy. Well, you got who you wanted, now you can live with it. I don't intend to. :-)

So everyone who voted for Kerry was "completely alienated" by Bush? What about the Bush supporter and Kerry. Hell, how about the Swift Boat Vets and Kerry. Talk about offended.

Here we go into the issues.

1. Jobs: Yeah, the 2001 stock market/economy collapse was totally Bush's fault. It had nothing to do with that whole "irrational exhuberence" and the .com meltdown.

2. Schools: My kids is in NCLB. Yeah, the funding sucked, but honestly, what the schools are doing with the funding is even more so.

3. A major attack on the US coupled with a economic collapse? Please...blaming this on Bush is like blaming your cat for the car not starting.

Those were my issues and trust me, I voted for the right guy.

1.) Jobs.... and how much improvement has there been since? None? Declining further you say? oh my

2.) Schools ... public schools are pretty much shot. homeschooling is where it's at anyway

3.) I'm sorry to break the news to you but the economic collapse was FOUR YEARS AGO, the attack was THREE YEARS AGO... he hasn't managed to bring it back one iota in the intervening time. Are we supposed to take a seven to eight year depression in stride?

1. Jobs are increasing...have been almost every month.

2. We agree on that statement, but opening 100,000 "homeschools" isn't going to happen tomorrow. We're talking a massive shift that will take a generation to pull off.

3. What caused the economic collapse? Hint, it wasn't Bush's policies since his first budget didn't get enacted until 2002.