Working at a tax prep office, I've had to learn how the "Defense of Marriage Act" affects the tax options of same-sex couples. Considering that sharing a household involves pretty much the same expenses and obligations that affect straight married couples, it seems unfair that they don't get the same financial breaks. Since conservatives seem to be a lot more rational when it comes to money, maybe activists should start talking about how badly gays are getting shorted dollar for dollar compared to straights who have similar living arrangements with their significant others. It can amount to thousands of dollars, not small change. The standard gay/antigay marriage argument goes something like this:
"You can't go changing the definition of marriage, it will destroy the foundations of marriage itself and civilization will collapse!"... "Why do you have to inflict your hatred on us? We just want to live our lives like you do."... "But it's just a word. Why can't you be happy with civil unions? Why does it have to be 'marriage'?"... (echoing across a vast cavern of time and space)
One protest idea: encourage gay and lesbian couples to cross-marry and share housing. A gay man can marry a lesbian woman, her wife can be officially the wife of another gay man who is married to the first gay man, all sharing living expenses and filing married jointly. Call it marriage, with a sly wink and a Ka-ching! sound. I have actually heard conservatives say that gays are allowed to marry, as long as they marry the appropriate gender, and therefore they shouldn't complain. My solution should satisfy both sides, problem solved!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Obama SWORE on a BIBLE!!!
I'm absolutely shocked and dismayed that our new President would show such utter contempt for God's Word as to deliberately disobey Jesus:
Matthew 5: "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (I have no idea who this site represents, but it has a good explanation of the oath prohibition in the New Testament)
From the evil one! You saw it here. Obama desecrated the Bible by swearing an oath that came direct from the mouth of Satan. Where's the outrage?
Matthew 5: "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (I have no idea who this site represents, but it has a good explanation of the oath prohibition in the New Testament)
From the evil one! You saw it here. Obama desecrated the Bible by swearing an oath that came direct from the mouth of Satan. Where's the outrage?
Debt Forgiveness Credits
Has anyone suggested creating a debt forgiveness credit system? Might be somewhat more Christian than the status quo. Not that we're a Christian nation or anything.
"Forgive and you will be forgiven. But if you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven." The big monotheisms all specifically mention debt forgiveness in their holy books, and the perils of driving people into debt and subjecting them to recurring penalties for getting stuck. For all the superstition, prejudice and violence in the Bible and the Quran, there were probably very valid reasons for prophets to make debt a moral issue, with God's wrath reserved for the greedy and unjust, along with the polytheists, atheists, gays, adulteresses and persecutors of the flogged, crucified or beheaded faithful flock.
Credits would give legitimacy to forgiveness by making it possible to cash in credits to wipe out debt, create chains or networks to collapse debt and perhaps discover added value in relationship as a side effect. How many untried configurations might reduce frustration and stress throughout the culture, if those who owe and those who are owed were arranged less inside a hierarchical pyramid and more in an evolving network of mutual benefit? If money can be created out of nothing, why not make debt disappear into nothing? If I were an economist, I might be able to knock down that idea, but I'm not.
My own view on debt (not having any), is that near-poverty without stress is much more enjoyable than the freedom to buy what you want as soon as you want it, when it comes with strings of obligation, deadlines or penalties.
"Forgive and you will be forgiven. But if you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven." The big monotheisms all specifically mention debt forgiveness in their holy books, and the perils of driving people into debt and subjecting them to recurring penalties for getting stuck. For all the superstition, prejudice and violence in the Bible and the Quran, there were probably very valid reasons for prophets to make debt a moral issue, with God's wrath reserved for the greedy and unjust, along with the polytheists, atheists, gays, adulteresses and persecutors of the flogged, crucified or beheaded faithful flock.
Credits would give legitimacy to forgiveness by making it possible to cash in credits to wipe out debt, create chains or networks to collapse debt and perhaps discover added value in relationship as a side effect. How many untried configurations might reduce frustration and stress throughout the culture, if those who owe and those who are owed were arranged less inside a hierarchical pyramid and more in an evolving network of mutual benefit? If money can be created out of nothing, why not make debt disappear into nothing? If I were an economist, I might be able to knock down that idea, but I'm not.
My own view on debt (not having any), is that near-poverty without stress is much more enjoyable than the freedom to buy what you want as soon as you want it, when it comes with strings of obligation, deadlines or penalties.
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