This week, California's supreme court struck down the state's law defining marriage as being exclusively between persons of differing genders. Gay rights activists cheered the state constitutional ruling. Ellen DeGeneres lost little time in announcing her upcoming nuptials. Yes, there has been dancing in the streets.
However, some conservative Republicans are almost as gleeful. They see this as a clear opportunity to rally their electoral base to get them to the polls in November. They plan to hold the specter of same gender couples being able to marry, adopt children, and file joint tax returns up as a nightmarish abomination that only their votes for the Republican party candidates can prevent.
Right wing Republicans have been less than enthusiastic about their apparent presidential nominee, John McCain. There has been considerable concern that they might just stay home in November. As a consequence, the Republicans face a real possibility of substantial losses at all political levels. However, being able to stir up anti-gay feelings may be just the catalyst they need to get their people to the polls. The California ruling makes it more likely that will happen.
I don't think the GOP necessarily likes being the haven of bigots. But in an election year like this one, they'll take their votes wherever they can get them. When opportunity knocks, they don't care if it's the devil on the other side of the door.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 17, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why Not Lift the Gasoline Tax?
Senator John McCain and Senator Hillary Clinton have both been advocating for a summer suspension of the federal gas tax. Senator Barack Obama says the whole idea is a useless gimmick designed to buy votes. Who is right?
The idea that lifting the taxes on gasoline would reduce its price at the pump has appeal. Everyone would like to pay less. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the consumer would ever see that savings.
* The gasoline retailers might simply use the savings to increase their profit margins leaving the prices where they are.
* The oil companies might increase their prices to the stations to increase their profit margins.
* If neither of those happened, a temporary drop in retail prices would probably spur increased usage of gasoline pushing up demand. This would result in more rising prices.
So, why even propose suspending the gasoline tax? Because it gives the appearance that the government is doing something about the situation. It gives voters the impression that their politicians care and are trying to help. Unfortunately, the most likely beneficiaries would be the oil companies.
It takes courage to tell voters what they don't want to hear. It takes integrity to admit an idea that sounds great on the surface simply won't work. I commend Senator Obama for doing just that. I also wonder what happened to John McCain's straight talk.
That's Wade's 2 cents.
Wade Houston
May 14, 2008
The idea that lifting the taxes on gasoline would reduce its price at the pump has appeal. Everyone would like to pay less. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the consumer would ever see that savings.
* The gasoline retailers might simply use the savings to increase their profit margins leaving the prices where they are.
* The oil companies might increase their prices to the stations to increase their profit margins.
* If neither of those happened, a temporary drop in retail prices would probably spur increased usage of gasoline pushing up demand. This would result in more rising prices.
So, why even propose suspending the gasoline tax? Because it gives the appearance that the government is doing something about the situation. It gives voters the impression that their politicians care and are trying to help. Unfortunately, the most likely beneficiaries would be the oil companies.
It takes courage to tell voters what they don't want to hear. It takes integrity to admit an idea that sounds great on the surface simply won't work. I commend Senator Obama for doing just that. I also wonder what happened to John McCain's straight talk.
That's Wade's 2 cents.
Wade Houston
May 14, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
If I Had a Do Over
As I mentioned in my post regarding my super Tuesday vote, I cast my vote in the primary for Hillary Clinton. After a lot of internal debate, I made my decision based entirely upon her position on health care. All of my immediate family has some sort of health condition which makes individual health insurance either impossible to obtain or prohibitively expensive. So, this issue carries enormous weight with me personally.
Since that time, there have been new developments in the course of the campaign which have greatly increased my respect for Barack Obama. The exposure of the outlandish statements by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, was a significant challenge. However, instead of immediately disowning Rev. Wright (as would have been politically expedient), Senator Obama acknowledged the differences between them but affirmed the relationship. This was admirable.
Later, when Jeremiah Wright made additional statements before the National Press Club in which he accused Senator Obama of saying whatever was needed for political reasons, Barack Obama adjusted to this new development with measured, but appropriate, distancing action. This demonstrates the ability to change course when necessary and to face reality. Both times I felt Barack Obama showed enormous strength and depth of character.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton told the blatantly untrue tale of running for cover to avoid sniper fire in Bosnia. She told this story not just once, but several times. It is difficult to believe that someone so normally in command of the facts would have made such a gaff unintentionally. This does not speak well of her character.
Senator John McCain suggested suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summer. Senator Clinton jumped on that bandwagon as well. Either they are both so ignorant they can't see what a useless gesture that would be, or they are political opportunists just looking to buy votes from a gullible electorate. To his credit, Senator Obama is calling this what it is, "a gimmick".
In spite of these developments, if we were having our primary today, instead of back in Feburary, I would still have let the health care issue decide my vote. Universal health care is that important to me. I would mark my ballot for Hillary Clinton, but I might have to hold my nose to do it.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 12, 2008
Since that time, there have been new developments in the course of the campaign which have greatly increased my respect for Barack Obama. The exposure of the outlandish statements by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, was a significant challenge. However, instead of immediately disowning Rev. Wright (as would have been politically expedient), Senator Obama acknowledged the differences between them but affirmed the relationship. This was admirable.
Later, when Jeremiah Wright made additional statements before the National Press Club in which he accused Senator Obama of saying whatever was needed for political reasons, Barack Obama adjusted to this new development with measured, but appropriate, distancing action. This demonstrates the ability to change course when necessary and to face reality. Both times I felt Barack Obama showed enormous strength and depth of character.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton told the blatantly untrue tale of running for cover to avoid sniper fire in Bosnia. She told this story not just once, but several times. It is difficult to believe that someone so normally in command of the facts would have made such a gaff unintentionally. This does not speak well of her character.
Senator John McCain suggested suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summer. Senator Clinton jumped on that bandwagon as well. Either they are both so ignorant they can't see what a useless gesture that would be, or they are political opportunists just looking to buy votes from a gullible electorate. To his credit, Senator Obama is calling this what it is, "a gimmick".
In spite of these developments, if we were having our primary today, instead of back in Feburary, I would still have let the health care issue decide my vote. Universal health care is that important to me. I would mark my ballot for Hillary Clinton, but I might have to hold my nose to do it.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Rev. Jeremiah Wright is Wrong
While there has been a lot of furor over the comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, few of his statements slapped me across the face so much as an assertion he made before the National Press Club. When Wright suggested that an attack against him and his positions was really an attack against the black church, I was astounded.
First, I could not believe the arrogance of such a statement! Jeremiah Wright may be a very public person. He may be a prominent person. But he is NOT the summation of Christendom among blacks in America. The idea is outlandish! No one person can lay claim to that role.
Second, there is more than one predominantly black denomination in America. National Baptist churches, African Methodist Episcopal churches, Church of God in Christ churches, and numerous others all make up different Christian denominations with predominantly black memberships. So, there is not even one denomination that speaks for all Christians who are black in this country.
Third, the denomination of which Jeremiah Wright is a part is not even predominantly black. It is true that the congregation he pastored is made up almost entirely of black members. However, the United Church of Christ denomination at large has far more non-black members than black members.
Fourth, I would assert there is no Black Church (with a capital "C") in America or anywhere in the world. Yes, there are black churches (with a lowercase "c"). But, it is a precept of mainstream Christian theology that there is but one universal Church, and it encompasses people who are from all races and nationalities.
Fifth, while I know many Christians who are black, I don't personally know any who would join Jeremiah Wright in saying, "God damn America." Jeremiah Wright did not consult with them. Rev. Wright does not speak for them.
Rev. Wright is wrong! An attack against Jeremiah Wright and his positions is an attack against him individually. He should stop trying to drag other people into his battles.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 11, 2008
First, I could not believe the arrogance of such a statement! Jeremiah Wright may be a very public person. He may be a prominent person. But he is NOT the summation of Christendom among blacks in America. The idea is outlandish! No one person can lay claim to that role.
Second, there is more than one predominantly black denomination in America. National Baptist churches, African Methodist Episcopal churches, Church of God in Christ churches, and numerous others all make up different Christian denominations with predominantly black memberships. So, there is not even one denomination that speaks for all Christians who are black in this country.
Third, the denomination of which Jeremiah Wright is a part is not even predominantly black. It is true that the congregation he pastored is made up almost entirely of black members. However, the United Church of Christ denomination at large has far more non-black members than black members.
Fourth, I would assert there is no Black Church (with a capital "C") in America or anywhere in the world. Yes, there are black churches (with a lowercase "c"). But, it is a precept of mainstream Christian theology that there is but one universal Church, and it encompasses people who are from all races and nationalities.
Fifth, while I know many Christians who are black, I don't personally know any who would join Jeremiah Wright in saying, "God damn America." Jeremiah Wright did not consult with them. Rev. Wright does not speak for them.
Rev. Wright is wrong! An attack against Jeremiah Wright and his positions is an attack against him individually. He should stop trying to drag other people into his battles.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 11, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Feeble Explanation
There is no good excuse for my not posting to this blog in the past several weeks. There is, however, a feeble explanation. This is it.
While I was trying to make a habit of posting to this blog at least once a week and commonly more often, I got derailed by a bout with the flu. It was one of those strains that the current vaccine did not prevent. The reason I can tell even though I did not get the vaccine, is that I managed to pass it along to someone else who had received the shot a couple of months before.
Anyway, I was in bed with the flu for about a week. Even though I went back to my job, I still felt really tired and coughed quite a bit. In fact, the coughing persisted for a number of weeks afterward. Others who had this influenza have told me similar stories. For the sake of my ability to function at work, I felt obliged to rest as much as possible when I came home. So, instead of blogging, I lay in bed. Instead of studying Spanish, I lay in bed. Instead of doing a number of household chores, I lay in bed.
Once all this laying around was no longer necessary, I had a lot of catching up to do with other things. Blogging took a seat in the far back of the bus. Now, regular posting is no longer a habit.
By the way, we really really really need universal health care.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 10, 2008
While I was trying to make a habit of posting to this blog at least once a week and commonly more often, I got derailed by a bout with the flu. It was one of those strains that the current vaccine did not prevent. The reason I can tell even though I did not get the vaccine, is that I managed to pass it along to someone else who had received the shot a couple of months before.
Anyway, I was in bed with the flu for about a week. Even though I went back to my job, I still felt really tired and coughed quite a bit. In fact, the coughing persisted for a number of weeks afterward. Others who had this influenza have told me similar stories. For the sake of my ability to function at work, I felt obliged to rest as much as possible when I came home. So, instead of blogging, I lay in bed. Instead of studying Spanish, I lay in bed. Instead of doing a number of household chores, I lay in bed.
Once all this laying around was no longer necessary, I had a lot of catching up to do with other things. Blogging took a seat in the far back of the bus. Now, regular posting is no longer a habit.
By the way, we really really really need universal health care.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 10, 2008
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