To misquote the Jackson 5...
I'm not going back to Indiana.
But not just Indiana after doing a bit of digging into this issue. Here is a list of the 21 states that have Religious Freedom Restoration Acts:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Of these states, I have no concerns about Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and Rhode Island. That's because while those four states have RFRA laws on the books, they also have laws that make LGBT discrimination in public accommodations illegal. As to the other 17 states, you won't see me again until you pass laws that ensure equal treatment.
If someone's religion, race, gender, age and other factors about them are not allowed to be used as the basis for discrimination in a public accommodation, then neither should someone's sexual preference or gender identity. Do we go back to NINA (No Irish Need Apply) and White's Only signs? These laws that allow someone to use their religion to make discriminatory behavior permissible are a step in the right direction.
Perhaps the Ku Klux Klan will declare itself a religion and in the states in the South where there are RFRA laws, begin excluding on the basis of race or faith. Oh wait, laws prevent that. And while there is a Federal RFRA, most of it was declared unconstitutional and it now only applies to the federal government itself.
The notion of boycotting 17 states isn't easy. But we must pressure them to pass LGBT anti-discrimination laws to counter their RFRA laws.
* * *
"I can't be overdrawn, I still have checks left." (we don't know for certain who first said this)
"How do I balance my checkbook? I open the statement from the bank, and I write down what they say my balance is. Then I get to writing checks." - an airman who came to me for personal financial counseling back in the day
"I'm so broke that if it cost a quarter to go around the world, I couldn't leave town." - Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway in "Heartbreak Ridge"
There is an editorial on the Los Angeles Times web site titled "The GOP's Budget gimmickry won't fix the deficit. Be it budget gimmickry, voodoo economics or whatever, the labels used to describe the Machiavellian machinations (my label) of our government fail to fully explain what is the root cause of our busted budget. Simply put, we've had decades where Congress spent more than it brought in.
For an individual it is a simple concept. You can't spend more than you have, or can borrow. For our government, one problem is that they can just keep on borrowing. Imagine if you had a MasterCard and you could keep raising the limit. Of course you can't, because the issuer of that card controls the limited amount of credit you have. Congress passes a bill raising the amount of borrowing they can engage in and poof, their credit limit is increased.
We can talk about the problems of entitlements, mandated spending, corporate welfare and so on; however, in the end the situation must be addressed by recognizing a simple dictum. You can either spend less or generate more revenue. Those are the only two choices.
How can we generate more revenue without raising taxes? By improving our economy. How can we improve our economy? By addressing the root cause of its ills. The growing inequality of income. The shrinking percentage of the labor pool who are working or seeking employment. Those are the "big two."
Another issue that requires our attention is the growing influence of "secret" money in politics. The answer to that is simple. Eliminate the ability of any political entity to receive anonymous donations. Require them all to publish donor lists that are open to the public.
* * *
Random Ponderings:
I think any video of the last moments of that Germanwings flight that crashed should not be released to the public. Too horrifying.
Would someone let me know where in Santa Monica that woman from "Dance Moms" is opening her studio, so I can avoid it like the plague?
Apparently one NFL player who says he is bisexual and is remaining anonymous is taking Michael Sam to task for saying that the gay and bisexual men currently playing in the NFL "lack the courage to come out." This player said "he has his own opinion but don't say we don't have the courage to come out." Now this man has every right to keep his private life private. However, it begs the question, if it isn't a lack of courage that keeps him from emerging from the closet, what is it keeping him inside of it?
A sitting United States senator is going to be indicted, and people are surprised he is proclaiming his innocence? That's rich.
Who in the world would want a pizza place to cater a wedding of any kind??? Ridiculous!!
At the rate the drought is worsening in CA, the residents may need to learn the difference between a "Hollywood" shower and the normal shower one gets aboard a submarine. Those kind might be in our collective futures.
McDonald's raising the minimum wage and adding benefits at their company owned stores is a really good decision. It will pay for itself in improved employee longevity and lowered training costs.
On a related note, it was really weird last night to see an employee of the Baja Fresh wearing his uniform shirt, next door hiding in the corner at Panda Express, chowing down on chow mein.
Clearly, Todd Starnes is an idiot who doesn't understand how the military chaplain system works.
But not just Indiana after doing a bit of digging into this issue. Here is a list of the 21 states that have Religious Freedom Restoration Acts:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Of these states, I have no concerns about Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and Rhode Island. That's because while those four states have RFRA laws on the books, they also have laws that make LGBT discrimination in public accommodations illegal. As to the other 17 states, you won't see me again until you pass laws that ensure equal treatment.
If someone's religion, race, gender, age and other factors about them are not allowed to be used as the basis for discrimination in a public accommodation, then neither should someone's sexual preference or gender identity. Do we go back to NINA (No Irish Need Apply) and White's Only signs? These laws that allow someone to use their religion to make discriminatory behavior permissible are a step in the right direction.
Perhaps the Ku Klux Klan will declare itself a religion and in the states in the South where there are RFRA laws, begin excluding on the basis of race or faith. Oh wait, laws prevent that. And while there is a Federal RFRA, most of it was declared unconstitutional and it now only applies to the federal government itself.
The notion of boycotting 17 states isn't easy. But we must pressure them to pass LGBT anti-discrimination laws to counter their RFRA laws.
* * *
"I can't be overdrawn, I still have checks left." (we don't know for certain who first said this)
"How do I balance my checkbook? I open the statement from the bank, and I write down what they say my balance is. Then I get to writing checks." - an airman who came to me for personal financial counseling back in the day
"I'm so broke that if it cost a quarter to go around the world, I couldn't leave town." - Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway in "Heartbreak Ridge"
There is an editorial on the Los Angeles Times web site titled "The GOP's Budget gimmickry won't fix the deficit. Be it budget gimmickry, voodoo economics or whatever, the labels used to describe the Machiavellian machinations (my label) of our government fail to fully explain what is the root cause of our busted budget. Simply put, we've had decades where Congress spent more than it brought in.
For an individual it is a simple concept. You can't spend more than you have, or can borrow. For our government, one problem is that they can just keep on borrowing. Imagine if you had a MasterCard and you could keep raising the limit. Of course you can't, because the issuer of that card controls the limited amount of credit you have. Congress passes a bill raising the amount of borrowing they can engage in and poof, their credit limit is increased.
We can talk about the problems of entitlements, mandated spending, corporate welfare and so on; however, in the end the situation must be addressed by recognizing a simple dictum. You can either spend less or generate more revenue. Those are the only two choices.
How can we generate more revenue without raising taxes? By improving our economy. How can we improve our economy? By addressing the root cause of its ills. The growing inequality of income. The shrinking percentage of the labor pool who are working or seeking employment. Those are the "big two."
Another issue that requires our attention is the growing influence of "secret" money in politics. The answer to that is simple. Eliminate the ability of any political entity to receive anonymous donations. Require them all to publish donor lists that are open to the public.
* * *
Random Ponderings:
I think any video of the last moments of that Germanwings flight that crashed should not be released to the public. Too horrifying.
Would someone let me know where in Santa Monica that woman from "Dance Moms" is opening her studio, so I can avoid it like the plague?
Apparently one NFL player who says he is bisexual and is remaining anonymous is taking Michael Sam to task for saying that the gay and bisexual men currently playing in the NFL "lack the courage to come out." This player said "he has his own opinion but don't say we don't have the courage to come out." Now this man has every right to keep his private life private. However, it begs the question, if it isn't a lack of courage that keeps him from emerging from the closet, what is it keeping him inside of it?
A sitting United States senator is going to be indicted, and people are surprised he is proclaiming his innocence? That's rich.
Who in the world would want a pizza place to cater a wedding of any kind??? Ridiculous!!
At the rate the drought is worsening in CA, the residents may need to learn the difference between a "Hollywood" shower and the normal shower one gets aboard a submarine. Those kind might be in our collective futures.
McDonald's raising the minimum wage and adding benefits at their company owned stores is a really good decision. It will pay for itself in improved employee longevity and lowered training costs.
On a related note, it was really weird last night to see an employee of the Baja Fresh wearing his uniform shirt, next door hiding in the corner at Panda Express, chowing down on chow mein.
Clearly, Todd Starnes is an idiot who doesn't understand how the military chaplain system works.
posted by me at 6:00 AM
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