california

We have all heard the news, Judge overturns California's ban on same-sex marriage. I was not surprised by this ruling nor should anyone else.

We live in a time where groups of individuals who are unable to sway public opinion can use the courts to achieve their goals. This is extremely evident when it comes to same-sex marriage. You can see here that most states ban same-sex marriage. (You can also read about various polls here.) However, time after time, the supporters of same-sex marriage have taken the issue to the courts and achieved their goals with the latest being the overturning of Proposition 8.

So, what are those of us who support traditional marriage to do?

Unfortunately, I believe it is too late to do anything about marriage. The Ninth Circuit will uphold the decision as will the Supreme Court. Same-sex marriage will happen!

We need to focus on changing the hearts of people. As the public opinion polls show, support for same-sex marriage is growing. The question is, why? Is it fatigue over the issue? Is it apathy?

I believe the silencing of God in this country is the biggest reason for the change. Over the last 50 plus years, there has been one challenge after another to remove religion, especially the Christian religion, from the public square: from prayer at schools to removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. And, with each successful challenge, fewer and fewer people are willing to share their beliefs for fear of reprisal.

The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience attempts to remind Christians that they are "called to proclaim the Gospel of costly grace, to protect the intrinsic dignity of the human person and to stand for the common good". The declaration discusses three specific issues: Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty.

Religious Liberty to me is of utmost importance. As I stated, I believe fear of reprisal causes many to hide their faith. We need to eliminate that fear by focusing on strengthening our right to share our religiously based opinions. Unfortunately, that is a tough task. It will require us to share first and then challenge the attacks that we WILL receive. I believe that once that fear is removed, we will see more and more Christians standing up for what we believe is right such as the sanctity of life.

I am a Christian! Jesus died for me and everyone else. It is by God's grace that I have eternal life.

I will not keep that good news to myself!

Will you stand with me?

Happy New Year to everyone!

For those of us still stuck in California, here are some of the creative laws our government feels necessary. Socialism is strong!

California's new laws for 2010

New California Laws For 2010

Is there hope?

A commission in California will recommend a change to the "personal income tax structure to reduce the burden on the wealthy". They will also recommend abolishing sales and corporate taxes, replacing it with a tax on businesses net receipts.

Read the article here.

You can also visit the website for the Commission on the 21st Century Economy to learn more about the commission and their charge.

I was reading a news article (here) about the California State Supreme Court's ruling validating Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act. While reading the comments to the article, I came across the following:

"If California did not want gay marriage then all of this would never have happend and those who are married now would have never been offered the chance…. so think about the facts."

The implication of the statement is that California "wants" same-sex marriage. I disagree, so I responded with the following:

The facts are:

1) In 2000, Californians passed Proposition 22 stating that marriage should be between one man and one woman.
2) Those who want to redefine marriage took the issue to court. And, in May of 2008, eight years later, 4 of 7 judges in the California State Supreme Court voted to overturn Proposition 22 and allow same-sex marriage. The State Supreme Court also denied a request to "stay" the decision until Proposition 8 was decided later in the year.
3) In November of 2008, Californians again declare that marriage should be between one man and one woman by passing Proposition 8.
4) In May of 2009, the State Supreme Court rules that Proposition 8 is valid. And, even though some disagree, the Court had no choice but to let approximately 18,000 same-sex marriages remain recognized because they did not grant the stay requested after their earlier decision.

Those are the facts.

Same-sex marriage is an issue in this State because a group of individuals who want to redefine marriage have made it an issue. And, the group has been successful in achieving their goals using the Court system. However, each time it has been presented to the voters of this State, the voters have been clear that they do not want marriage redefined.

Marriage is not a right. Historically, it is a religious ceremony joining one man and one woman in "holy matrimony". Today, not only is it a religious ceremony for most, but the State uses it as a "legal instrument" to confer "benefits" to those who are "married".

Personally, I believe the State should come up with another legal instrument to confer those "benefits" and leave marriage to the religious institutions. This will allow the State to grant the legal instrument to both traditional unions and same-sex unions without redefining marriage. I think this would best serve both sides of this issue.

I would love to see the proponents of same-sex marriage pressure the State to come up with a legal instrument other than a "marriage certificate" to confer the rights they are seeking. The State and the Federal Government need to get out of the marriage business.

Will that happen? Considering this article, it looks like the fight is moving back into the court system.

Victor David Hanson wrote an excellent article titled "Accounting for California's Suicide" which was published by Real Clear Politics on March 6, 2009.

I suggest everyone read the above article. Once read, take action if you wish to save the State of California.

Technorati : Budget Deficit, California, Liberal Ideology
Del.icio.us : Budget Deficit, California, Liberal Ideology

So, what does a Legislature do when: 1) the budget is $42 billion short; 2) the Country is in a recession; and 3) their constituents are taking pay cuts or losing their jobs? Well, in California, the Democratic controlled Legislature raises taxes!!! (Read the article here).
Once again, it is the citizens who have to pay for their mistakes.
The Legislature in California has been on a spending spree for the last decade. And, following the "dot-com bust", the Legislature has contiunously tried to raise taxes rather than cut-spending. They have finally succeeded. The Legislature "says" there are cuts. But, you will be hard pressed to find "actual cuts". What the Legislature calls cuts is really an increase, only the increase is not as big as was desired.
Will voters in this State ever realize that the "tax and spend" philosophy does not work?
And, more importantly, will Republicans stop welcoming those who are Repbulicans In Name Only (RINO), like our Governer and the three "Republicans" in each house that had to support the proposed tax increases?

Technorati : Budget, California, Republicans

Finally, someone else is putting forward the idea I suggested here, the idea of getting the State out of the marriage business. Read the opinion piece by Douglas W. Kmiec's titled "A proposal for compromise on Prop. 8".

Essentially, the idea is to eliminate marriage licensing by the State and Federal Governments and replace it with a civil union. The civil union will have all the same rights and benefits that the State and Federal Government confers to marriage today. No ceremony is required to establish a civil union, only the completion and filing of the proper paperwork.

Then, the religious institutions will be free to perform marriage ceremonies for whom they choose.

And, more importantly, those who believe the act of homosexuality is wrong will retain their First Amendment right to state their belief in the public square, whether they are an individual or a religious institution.

Let's hope this idea gains momentum and actually get's pushed through the legislative process at both levels!!!