p-branez
08-09-2011, 11:45 AM
Recently, I feel political and economic discussions are more divisive than empowering. Maybe, as Americans and global citizens, we should talk about important issues outside the mainstream political and economic conversation.
I'm going to suggest a specific policy proposal that (1) could garner widespread support, (2) could improve the US economy, and (3) move the United States forward in promoting civil liberties:
Legalize same-sex marriage by Executive Order.
1. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) could be a rallying point. He is a true independent political leader, elected as a Republican before becoming an Independent. After same-sex marriage passed in New York, he presided at the same-sex wedding of a top aide. A wide coalition on the pro-marriage side with celebrities, political leaders, and civil rights activists could propel this issue to the President.
2. Here's a small article (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2009/0527/p02s07-ussc.html) I found after a quick Google search outlining some positive economic benefits of legalizing same-sex marriage in specific US states.
Some quick benefits: states increase tax revenue by selling more marriage licenses, income taxes are generally higher for married couples, and married couples normally provide each other and children with social stability. Moreover, more weddings means more business for clothing shops, catering companies, rental spaces, and wedding planners.
The economic downside of marriage seems to be associated with higher employer-provided health care costs for new partners, and higher government costs when one partner dies. Since these are normal and acceptable costs associated with heterosexual marriages, I don't see how they can suddenly be invoked as a reason for preventing same-sex marriage.
3. President Obama could make change that the majority of American people agree with. (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/gay-marriage-opponents-now-in-minority/) We know where the courts stand: Last year, a federal judge in California (http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/w/vaughn_r_walker/index.html?inline=nyt-per), one appointed by Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the first President Bush, reversed California's ban on same-sex marriage (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/us/05prop.html).
The law doesn't have to be created by Executive Order. The US Congress could write and pass this law and score some political points for potential bi-partisan support. In a recent vote of political courage rather than party allegiance, eight Senate Republicans (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/1218/In-historic-vote-Senate-moves-to-end-don-t-ask-don-t-tell) voted with Democrats to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Rather than waiting for an inevitable Supreme Court decision on the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal legislation that currently bans same-sex marriage, President Obama and the Congress should work together and act quickly to legalize same-sex marriage.
I'm going to suggest a specific policy proposal that (1) could garner widespread support, (2) could improve the US economy, and (3) move the United States forward in promoting civil liberties:
Legalize same-sex marriage by Executive Order.
1. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) could be a rallying point. He is a true independent political leader, elected as a Republican before becoming an Independent. After same-sex marriage passed in New York, he presided at the same-sex wedding of a top aide. A wide coalition on the pro-marriage side with celebrities, political leaders, and civil rights activists could propel this issue to the President.
2. Here's a small article (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2009/0527/p02s07-ussc.html) I found after a quick Google search outlining some positive economic benefits of legalizing same-sex marriage in specific US states.
Some quick benefits: states increase tax revenue by selling more marriage licenses, income taxes are generally higher for married couples, and married couples normally provide each other and children with social stability. Moreover, more weddings means more business for clothing shops, catering companies, rental spaces, and wedding planners.
The economic downside of marriage seems to be associated with higher employer-provided health care costs for new partners, and higher government costs when one partner dies. Since these are normal and acceptable costs associated with heterosexual marriages, I don't see how they can suddenly be invoked as a reason for preventing same-sex marriage.
3. President Obama could make change that the majority of American people agree with. (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/gay-marriage-opponents-now-in-minority/) We know where the courts stand: Last year, a federal judge in California (http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/w/vaughn_r_walker/index.html?inline=nyt-per), one appointed by Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the first President Bush, reversed California's ban on same-sex marriage (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/us/05prop.html).
The law doesn't have to be created by Executive Order. The US Congress could write and pass this law and score some political points for potential bi-partisan support. In a recent vote of political courage rather than party allegiance, eight Senate Republicans (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/1218/In-historic-vote-Senate-moves-to-end-don-t-ask-don-t-tell) voted with Democrats to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Rather than waiting for an inevitable Supreme Court decision on the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal legislation that currently bans same-sex marriage, President Obama and the Congress should work together and act quickly to legalize same-sex marriage.