My election plea (Page 2)

OUCH.

But i agree with this.

So shall we legalize murder, theft, bribery, pedophelia, etc.? Nothing that blatant?  Then but how about DUI and all drugs?  Like it or not our collective moral compass is the reason for our laws and without those civilization falls apart into anarchy.

You know that's not what I'm talking about.  Taxes, social security and medicare are not denying you the right to do with your money as you wish.  It just means you have less money to use.  But again, you know that's not what I'm talking about.  And if changes were made to give you more disposable income by privatizing or reducing some of the above, I don't believe it would deny anyone else of their rights.  That's fiscal, retirement, insurance and tax policy - not restricting rights.

Are you asking me if I believe in what a few Democrats say that social security and medicare are civil rights that all Americans deserve no matter what and the programs should never be modified?  If so, the answer is no.  I don't believe that.

This is so frustrating and why I worry about the amendment being passed.   I think that "most" people voting yes actually think they would be voting for gay marriage if they voted no.  Or, that somehow voting yes will stop gay people from living together, raising families, etc.

For the rest of you, the vote is for whether to amend the state constitution to say that marriage is between "one man and one woman".  Gay marriage is, and will continue to be, not legal (for now).  

I only wish more Americans had a "belief system" or moral compass to lean towards.   Unfortunately, most do not.   Regardless of what that specific belief system may be, it sure beats the "vote for the popular guy" mentality that I see being used today.  I have a lot more respect for people who at least have a reason for voting the way they do. 

2 cents

So only the money the Government allows you to keep is truly yours?

Are you suggesting that someone who doesn't vote based on a religious platform doesn't have a belief system?

That is so wrong it's just laughable!

Wow, that is a pretty broad generalization.  One that I would completely disagree with.

2 cents.

Siiiiiigh.  No.  Paraphrase:  "Let me ask that when you vote, you consider not to restrict anyone else's rights.  And that goes for myself as well.  We may not agree on beliefs, but I will never vote to restrict your rights."

So many people are taking this the exact OPPOSITE of what I intended...  It doesn't matter that your religously informed opinion might be the same or different than mine.  I'm not passing judgement on your religion or beliefs.  I don't even know what they are.  I'm simply asking that as you treasure those beliefs yourself, please do not vote to restrict others' rights because their lives, heritage, gender, race or beliefs are simply different than yours.

I believe this is what I was referring to. http://mnunited.org/ Thanks for the correction and clarification.

Yes, there is. But it will not give gays the right to get married. It's a very important distinction, and I think a lot of folks are confused about it--esp. the elderly and the less-educated.

Sadly, I wish we WERE voting to allow marriage rights for everyone. But instead, all this time and money is being spent so that we can vote to try and stop it from being even more illegal than it was before.

It saddens me that I live in a state where this would happen. It saddens me that people would vote to use the constitution to prohibit rights and freedoms, instead of grant or ensure them. And, it saddens (and frustrates me tremendously) that I have yet to hear a cogent, logical argument on why this amendment is a good idea.

What rights are you talking about exactly?

Will you support the right of Catholic institutions to not have to provide
abortion or contraception services in their health plans for their employees
regardless of who pays for it? 

Yeah.  He has 2 purple hearts and a silver star for defending the civil rights of anyone and everyone in this country.

... I'll have to remember another one and post it.  It'll be 19 years this coming July since he died.  miss the old man.  There are dozens of them.  I'm sure if he were alive today and read what I originally posted here, he would've slapped me upside the head.  Not for disagreeing with me (the ol' Marine felt the exact same way) but for rather p!ssing into a hurricane.  hasn't gotten me anything but a face full of...

One of these days I'll learn.

... Probably not.

I think you are tiptoeing around an issue.  Is this all about gay marriage?

You keep mentioning "rights".  There are a limited number of true RIGHTS that we as Americans have.  And if we do pass a law that infringe on those rights then it can be correct via the Supreme Court.  Marriage is not one of those "rights".  Marriage rights can be withheld in some states due to relationships between the man and woman ("kissing cousin" laws).

If I have a moral/religious/intellectual/etc.. issue with issue X and I believe that issue X will cause this country to be a less safe/desirable/prosperous/etc.. place to live for me or my children, then I think I have every right to vote against issue X.

(Note, issue X is not gay marriage.  I don't have a dog in that fight. I say marry whoever you want.)

As everything, most things, even your rights and/or privileges are not black and white.

You may believe that they are, because they are your opinions, beliefs, but someone else, who does not share your beliefs, may believe something entirely different.

Not to start an abortion debate, but just as an example that comes to mind that continues to be an ongoing political issue:

Person 1: Is pro-choice, believes in a woman's right to choose, and believes that it is her right to choose as she sees fit.

Person 2: Is pro-life, and believes that the fetus is a living human, who should have some rights or total rights of a born human, even in Uterus.

Person 3: sees both sides of the argument.

Who's rights are you infringing upon if a state outlaws abortions, or if they totally allow them, with no restrictions.

I understand where you are coming from, and people should take more consideration when evaluating the issues they are voting, but it's not as simple as saying:  "Don't infringe on someone else's rights, by voting "X"".

Hence, this is why we have a court system, that works through these issues and allows us an avenue to help in deciding those rights.  And, if it's living and breathing, it's ever changing.

Just a thought.

 Not to worry Don. The separation of church and state activists are working diligently to ensure that the Catholic Church does not have to "merge" with the State.

For the record... yes.  It's a PRIVATE institution.  If they don't want to, it's their prerogative.  I'm surprised that anyone who chooses to work for a Catholic institution would expect or demand anything otherwise.  I believe that abortion and contraceptive services should be available to those who want/need, but private institutions shouldn't be forced to offer it.

Terrific.

Biden lied in the debate with Ryan about this issue.
Straight out lied.