Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny New York State, the sixth to join the list of states where same sex unions are now legal did so via legislation as opposed to judicial fiat. This, above all else, is to be cheered. Those who regularly read Rational Nation USA are aware of my position with respect to same sex unions . Though I believe the concept of marriage should remain as the millennium old definition so do I believe same sex unions should be afforded the same rights and recognition as heterosexual unions. From the New York Times ALBANY — Lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born. The marriage bill, whose fate was uncertain until moments before the vote, was approved 33 to 29 in a packed but hushed Senate chamber. Four...

Judge Walker's Prop 8 decision is illogical and an abuse of the law, according to critics The libertarian in me says people are free to do what they want so long as it does no harm to others.  David Harsanyi sums up this point of view in his article, Time for a Divorce . But isn't it about time we freed marriage from the state? Imagine if government had no interest in the definition of marriage. Individuals could commit to each other, head to the local priest or rabbi or shaman -- or no one at all -- and enter into contractual agreements, call their blissful union whatever they felt it should be called and go about the business of their lives. I certainly don't believe that gay marriage will trigger societal instability or undermine traditional marriage -- we already have that covered -- but mostly I believe your private relationships are none of my business. For the tried and true culture warriors, this just won’t do. I too am opposed to cultural and ...

By: Les Carpenter III Rational Nation USA The big item in the news, and it's all over internet as well,  is  Prop. 8,  the initiative overwhelmingly supported by California voters banning same sex marriages. Personally I refuse to call these unions marriages on a technicality.Marriage has always been defined as the union of a female and a male. Ostensibly for the purpose of perpetuating the species known as homo sapiens. Judge Walker , a member of the federal bench determined California voters (all seven million of them) were wrong in their judgement. The judge has declared Prop. 8 unconstitutional and struck it down. That's all I need to know because the energy spent on this issue is a mere distraction from the real pertinent issues that truly threaten our nation. Issues such as the national debt, unfunded liabilities, an ever growing government that curtails our liberties and suffocates our ...