Live data from Hacker News

Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

nytimes.com

51–60 of 1001 posts

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#52

good...now maybe the so-called "leftists" can put this issue aside and concentrate on issues that matter to more than about 1% of the population...I refer to these really "silly" issues like wages, single-payer healthcare (obamacare is a mess), trade, flooding of the labor supply, the drug war, worker rights and benefits, more time off and vacation, monopolies, regulatory capture, NIMBYized zoning/regs (aka affordabl…

Civil rights should matter to all of us, not just the people who lacked them.

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#53

If love is about ignoring race,class,gender,age shouldn't it be about ignoring numbers, too? Polygamy is the next hurdle for society. The judges should declare all consenting marriage legal !

Why the downvotes? Is that not a valid point? Or is it bad because it's a point used by the opposing side? Or is the problem the way it was stated?

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#54

Is there a general summary of the arguments made by the dissenting 4?

It's almost assuredly a "States Rights" argument. I'd be really shocked if it wasn't.

From what I read it is not a states right argument but an argument that the supreme court is supposed to interpert the laws not make them. Some quotes:

"Today, however, the Court takes the extraordinary stepof ordering every State to license and recognize same-sexmarriage. Many people will rejoice at this decision, and I begrudge none their celebration. But for those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening. Supporters of same-sexmarriage have achieved considerable success persuading their fellow citizens—through the democratic process—toadopt their view. That ends today. Five lawyers have closed the debate and enacted their own vision of marriageas a matter of constitutional law. Stealing this issue from the people will for many cast a cloud over same-sex marriage, making a dramatic social change that much moredifficult to accept."

"But this Court is not a legislature. Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us.Under the Constitution, judges have power to say whatthe law is, not what it should be. The people who ratifiedthe Constitution authorized courts to exercise “neither force nor will but merely judgment.” The Federalist No. 78, p. 465 (C. Rossiter ed. 1961) (A. Hamilton) (capitalization altered)."

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#56
post #4

Great decision. It's amazing how quickly gay rights have advanced in the western world. Unfortunately it's still legal in many states to discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation. Hopefully that's next to be fixed.

I blame Glee.

I say that a bit tongue-in-cheek but it definitely helps to have gay culture and gay icons just out there in the world, melded seamlessly with the rest of society. This includes things like trashy teen comedies and musicals and what not.

Having equal marriage rights is just one more step in the right direction of having a more tolerant, loving earth society.

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#57

good...now maybe the so-called "leftists" can put this issue aside and concentrate on issues that matter to more than about 1% of the population...I refer to these really "silly" issues like wages, single-payer healthcare (obamacare is a mess), trade, flooding of the labor supply, the drug war, worker rights and benefits, more time off and vacation, monopolies, regulatory capture, NIMBYized zoning/regs (aka affordabl…

It wouldn't have been such a big deal if there weren't so many legal things tied to it. Taxes, medical, property rights etc.

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#58
post #11

"A recent Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans – an all-time high – support extending the same rights and privileges to same-sex marriages as traditional ones." only 60% of US citizens support same-sex marraige? in my area it is more like 90-95%, this was surprising and sad for me to hear

Culturally, rural areas tend to be quite a bit more...backwards. And I say this as someone who grew up in a farm house.

It's hardly a new concept, either. In fact, the root of the latin word "pagan" just means "rustic villager in the country". When Christianity became en vogue in the Roman Empire, it was the rednecks out in the country who were resistant to it, so the word "pagan" became synonymous with "heathen".

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#59
post #11

"A recent Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans – an all-time high – support extending the same rights and privileges to same-sex marriages as traditional ones." only 60% of US citizens support same-sex marraige? in my area it is more like 90-95%, this was surprising and sad for me to hear

When you say "in my area it is more like 90-95%" are you referring to your perceived thoughts on what the rate would be, or are you referring to an actual poll?

If the former, than your area is probably not 90-95%, your social community is 90-95%. People tend to surround themselves with people with similar views. So it seems like in your town everyone is for gay marriage, when in fact it's the people in your town that you interact with that are for gay marriage. You don't know the opinion of those in your town who you don't associate with.

For example, if you asked me what percentage of the population smoked cigarettes, I would say 5-10%. That's because very few people I hang out with smoke cigarettes. If I were to walk into a bar (well... outside the bar) in a different neighbourhood, I might be surprised to see that 90% of people there are smoking.

Re: Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules

#60
post #16

Great news. Glad this won't be an issue going into the next presidential election. There's been so much time wasted on this issue when, at the end of the day, any 2 consenting adults should have all of the same rights as any other 2 consenting adults (barring felony conviction, poor mental health eval, etc).

Felony convictions and mental health evals have no bearing on marriages currently
Post reply on HN