Friday, November 14, 2008

Lots of Money Poorly Spent

So people and churches, outside of California, felt that Prop 8's failure was so dangerous, or non-religious, or too Christian, or something, that they spent more than $9 million dollars on the ballot measure.

I assume that most churches and church-going people give money to their church's causes in order to help people. While I don't know exactly what happened to that $9 million, I do know of some ways that you could spend much less than that, and actually help people. Here are some examples:
  • $60 buys a flock of chicks, ducks, and goslings that will grow up to provide eggs
  • $120 buys a sheep that can provide wool to a village, not to mention lambs (a goat is also $120) 
  • $500 buys a milk cow that can provide enough milk for a family and neighbors, for years!

Maybe I'm thinking too small here; I mean, $9 million is a lot of money. How about this:
  • $1500 buys Heifer International's "Joy to the World" collection: two sheep, four goats, a heifer, and two llamas
  • $5000 buys the "Gift Ark:" 15 pairs (that's 30 animals), including two water buffalo, sheep, cows, oxen, ... 

I think for $9 million, probably Heifer International would send everything anyone needs. Instead, that money went to put stupid, lying, ads on television, successfully scaring old people into thinking that bad things would happen if Prop 8 failed.

Well, maybe you out-of-state folks are so rich that this isn't that much money for you. I'm hopeful that you will send some much needed money to people who actually need it, especially because I can't any longer. The donations I used to make to help poor villages, hungry kids, and equipment for schools; now instead I have to send to repeal Prop 8. But obviously you guys are rich enough, I'm sure you can help those kids out.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Your Church Doesn’t Want Me To...

I understand that your church doesn’t want me to be married. Fortunately, I don’t want your church to marry me.

However, if we (California) allow your church to make this decision, then what is the next right your church will eliminate?
Here is a list of rules that some churches have:
* Abortions not allowed
* Divorces not allowed
* Contraception not allowed
* Follow the “Ten Commandments
* Follow the “Five Pillars of Islam
* Obey the “Seven Laws of Noah”
* Don’t drink alcohol (ever, or on certain days)
* Don’t drink caffeine
* Don’t eat pork

I can think of lots of rules that different churches may have. The thought that these rules can become, or already are, laws is horrifying. The creators of the United States of America, fortunately, thought this was so important that they actually wrote it into our Constitution (you can read that here) . I’m pretty sure this is exactly what they were talking about.

When you vote on November 4, think of how many laws you want written by a church. Then, think of all the laws that could be written by someone else's church. Vote No to laws from churches. Vote No on Prop 8.

The State’s Interest in Marriage

I’ve been thinking a lot about California’s Proposition 8, which would amend our state Constitution (the Constitution!) to remove the right for some people to marry. Aside from all the scare tactics by the supporters, which are ridiculous given the rights already protected by our Federal Constitution, here’s one way I think Prop 8 is wrong.

First of all, and fundamentally, the State (any state) should not have an interest in marriage. If you think the state does have an interest, then you should ask why. There are only two reasons I can think of that a state would want to be involved in something as personal as this:
1. the State wants to collect revenue by taxing licenses; and
2. the State wants to create more citizens, which increases its tax base
In the case of #2, then it follows that the State would then disallow the prevention of conception, as was denied several years ago in the case of Griswold v. Connecticut.

So, it follows that, if the State gets involved in regulating marriage, then here’s what else it should do, according to the State’s goal of increasing citizens:
* outlaw contraception
* outlaw divorce
* outlaw abortions
* outlaw procedures to decrease or eliminate fertility

I also am assuming that, if parents have divorced already, they probably will have to resume living together in order to help raise the kids, and create more. While this sounds pretty extreme, it is pretty close to the plot of the Handmaid’s Tale .

When you vote tomorrow, think of how much you want the State involved in your life, and your life decisions. If you don’t think it sounds like a good idea, then you should vote no on Prop 8.