BLAST FROM THE PAST: ONCE AND FOR ALL... SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DOES NOT VIOLATE STATES RIGHTS. PT 2.

Many Americans are unfamiliar with certain parts of the U.S. Constitution.  That is unfortunate, because sections that are frequently ignored publicly, often have answers that can resolve current dilemmas.

For our discussion, let us examine Article Four.  It reads in part:

"Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records and judicial Proceedings of every other State.  And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the manner in which such Acts, Records and proceedings shall be proved and the Effect thereof."

Basically, it guarantees that Contracts, Court Decisions and the results of Criminal and Civil proceedings in one State, are acknowledged and accepted by all other States. 

Examples include:

-  Drivers Licenses.

-  Court Decisions, both Criminal and Civil.

-  Educational Achievements.

The only way to circumvent Article Four, is the Creation of a Universal Definition that is applied to all States, by Act of Congress.

The DOMA, ( Defense of Marriage Act), was created to define Marriage as Legally Valid only if it includes the joining of a Woman and a Man.  However, the DOMA was eventually ruled to be Unconstitutional, violating the equal protection clause contained within the Fourteenth Amendment.

STATES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGES TO BE LEGALLY PERFORMED WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES, (SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW), ARE NOT BEING FORCED TO DO SO BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.  THEY ARE BEING REQUIRED TO RECOGNIZE A VALID LEGAL MARRIAGE PERFORMED IN ANOTHER STATE.  THERE IS NO RIGHT TO INVALIDATE A MARRIAGE LEGALLY CONDUCTED ELSEWHERE.  THEY CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH MARRIAGES THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED, NO STATE CAN.  THIS IS THE GUARANTEE CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE FOUR.

I hope this puts to rest the irrational idea that some states are being forced to allow Same-Sex Marriage to be legally performed within their borders.  This is an outright lie, put forth by dishonest politicians and their media flunkies. 

Date-  4/25/2014.

ETHICS AND MORALITY. STOP BLAMING POLITICIANS FOR THE MORAL PRIORITIES OF THE VOTER. PT 2.

It never Fails to Fascinate Me the way People react with Shock when an Elected Official, Politician, or Potential Candidate says something Outrageous. (At Least to The Listeners Way of Thinking.)  

Yes, some off the Cuff remarks are Unprepared, and catch Supporters off Guard. Damage Control is set into Motion, and "CLARIFICATION" is Issued to Media Outlets, so that the "MEANING'' OR "INTENT" can be Ascertained.  However, it is Rare for the Speaker to Disavow the entire Statement.

WHY?  Because they are Generally Directing the Comments to Supporters, who may try to spin any Mistake as a Simple Misunderstanding, or more likely, BLAME THE CRITICS FOR MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.  IN THE MOST DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY WILL CLAIM SUCH CRITICISMS AS A "WITCH HUNT" AGAINST THIS "HEROIC" INDIVIDUALS "STAND."

Think about it for a Minute, and consider some of MOST SHOCKING OR OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENTS THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER.  BUT DON'T THINK OF STATEMENTS ONLY MADE BY THOSE WHO REPRESENTED A VIEW OPPOSITE TO YOURS, CONSIDER CONTROVERSIAL LANGUAGE EXPRESSED BY INDIVIDUALS YOU SUPPORTED, AND HAD CONFIDENCE IN.  Do you Find any Differences in the way you reacted?

In the End, the only Real Controversy lies with those MIDDLE OF THE ROAD VOTERS, WHO HAVE NOT MADE A DEFINITE JUDGMENT REGARDING THE CHARACTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL MAKING THE CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS.  The EXTENT AND INTENSITY OF THE UPROAR REGARDING THE "OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE" USUALLY DEPENDS ON:

-  PAST BEHAVIOR.

-  THE IMPORTANCE OR SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OFFICE THE INDIVIDUAL

IS SEEKING, OR IS CURRENTLY OCCUPYING.

-  THE NATURE AND TYPE OF GROUP AT WHICH THE CONTROVERSIAL

STATEMENTS WERE DIRECTED AT.

Date-  7/4/2015.

ETHICS AND MORALITY. STOP BLAMING POLITICIANS FOR THE MORAL PRIORITIES OF THE VOTER. PT 1.

(Rand Paul)

On and On it goes.  No matter what Time of Year it is, and how Far Away the next Election may be, Controversy and Rhetoric is still the Order of the Day.

However, lets cut Through all the Speeches, News Bites and Most of All, the "BLAME GAME, " and look for the Real Cause(s) for the Lack of Progress in Creating New Laws and Public Policy that will Address any Problems the U.S. may have ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.  Is it really the Fault of our ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?  Are They ROGUE EGOTISTICAL DEMAGOGUES WHO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, or ARE THEY BEHAVING AS THOSE WHO PLACED THEM IN OFFICE EXPECTED THEM TO?

Some of the GREATEST MISCONCEPTIONS AMERICANS HAVE ABOUT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDE;

-  THE DISPARITY IN POWER FROM ONE CONGRESSPERSON TO ANOTHER.

-  THE MORAL BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT ROLE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY IN ADDRESSING ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE CAN DIFFER VASTLY BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME CHAMBER, COMMITTEE, OR EVEN POLITICAL PARTY.

-  THE MOTIVATIONS THAT LED TO THE ELECTORAL VICTORY OF ONE CANDIDATE, IN TERMS OF BRINGING OUT THE VOTE, COULD BE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THOSE THAT PLACED ANOTHER INTO ELECTED OFFICE.

FINALLY,

WHAT IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT, ESSENTIAL AND VITAL TO VOTERS IN ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY, CAN BE TRUMPED BY THE BELIEFS OF THOSE IN A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE FIFTY STATES.

THE PROBLEM CAN BE BOILED DOWN TO ONE ESSENTIAL THEME-  THAT TRYING TO CHANGE THE MIND OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ABOUT WHAT COMPRISES "GOOD" AND "ETHICAL" GOVERNMENT IS SOMETIMES USELESS. IT IS THE OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO PLACED THEM IN OFFICE THAT OFTEN CARRIES THE MOST WEIGHT.  AT LEAST THE ONES THAT:  A) VOTE.  B)  CONTRIBUTE.

Date-  6/4/2015.

FEATURE ARTICLES. WHAT PROGRESSIVES MUST LEARN. PT 6.

#2-  Stop Allowing Republicans and Tea Party Candidates

to Hijack the Moral High Ground, when its Media Campaign 

is Transparent, and Easily Refuted. 

This is another case of Progressives allowing Conservative Candidates to make assertions about members of the Electorate, without any foundation.  Further, Allowing Race- Baiting, and Nationalistic Fear Mongering to remain unchallenged is giving in to the Lowest Form of Political Rhetoric.

This is Best Exemplified by the continued attempts to cast President Obamas Immigration Policy in a way that is not Based in Reality.  It is allowing those Republican Candidates to play on the Fears and Irrationality of those Americans, who either through Racial/Cultural Stereotyping or Lack of Knowledge, believe that anyone who is not an American Citizen is Automatically either a Terrorist or a Freeloader. 

How Bad is it?  Here is an example I see all to often.

THE ACCUSATION:

ALLOWING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO REMAIN IN THIS COUNTRY,  WILL TAKE JOBS AWAY FROM AMERICAN CITIZENS.

ALRIGHT, LETS TRY AGAIN, AND SEE IF WE CAN OVERCOME  ANY FLAWS IN THIS TYPE OF STATEMENT.

Question #1-  For an IMMIGRANT To Work in the U.S., WHAT FACTOR IS MOST IMPORTANT, FOR THIS TO BECOME A REALITY?

ANSWER-  There must be a Job Available for them to fill.  If there is no work to be done, then there is no controversy.

Question #2-  If there are Jobs that cannot be filled by the American Work Force, leaving an Opportunity for Foreign Labor to come in and Satisfy the Need, What Types of Situations must have occurred for this to become Possible. 

-  There is a Lack of Qualified Applicants Legally Residing in the U.S., so turning to other sources of Labor is just a matter of survival.

-  That the Employment Opportunities in Certain Sectors of the Economy are not Appealing enough to Draw in the needed numbers among the Resident Population. This could be for Economic or Social Reasons.

-  That there are Employment Opportunities in Specific Geographical Locations, and the Local Population Cannot, for various reasons, fill the Void.

The Above Questions and Answers only Deal with Employment that is Legally Recognized By Law.  This Means that they are Subject to Government Regulations, and the Employer and the Employee must report their Association so that Proper Deductions can be made by both.  This is part of Official Recognition that a Formal Relationship Legally Exists between the Two.

However, the Problems that Stem from Legal Employment, are not the Reasons for the CURRENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROVERSY.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

Date-  1/13/2015.