Comments | kovucougar: Thank you Maine

kovucougar

Thank you Maine

Nov 04, 2009 06:08

For once again proving that minority rights should not be left to majority vote.

If it were left to popular vote, the 1960's "Civil Rights" movement would have gotten no where and there'd still be segregated schools and people sitting at the back of the bus in the USA.

You think I'm wrong?

Just think about it.

Comments 15

graemelion November 4 2009, 14:19:12 UTC

Well, it looks like Washington did the right thing , at least.

And you're right about the 60s.

kovucougar November 4 2009, 14:42:32 UTC

Washington is still too close to call. This is a mail in election, ballots had to be postmarked by yesterday. It will be the end of the week before even a guess might be made, possible the end of the month before all the "absentee" ballots are received and counted.

Even still, all this won't mean much until the federal level also recognizes it...

graemelion November 4 2009, 14:44:16 UTC

Hmm.. I thought the sec of state website had a check mark beside it meaning it was done.

My bad :)

Best of luck all the same!

kovucougar November 4 2009, 15:01:53 UTC

Hopefully we'll know well before then, but...

"Election results are not final or official until certified. By law, November 24, 2009 is the last day for county canvassing boards to certify results; December 3, 2009 is the last day for the Office of the Secretary of State to certify General Election returns."

As of this morning, there's still nearly 390,000 ballots to count. Updates to that number here:
http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/VoterTurnout.aspx?ElectionID=32

Thread 5

arlon November 4 2009, 16:21:18 UTC

Hey, if California, arguably the most liberal state in the union, can vote to keep gay marriage, then any state can do it.

Oh wait...

Had this very same conversation with someone last night. I think George Bush actually made the disparaging comment about "activist judges" stepping on the will and decision of the people. But what about when "the people" are clearly wrong? Who defends the minority if not the activist judges.

Ever notice how it's only the conservative right that even uses the term "Activist Judge". Do a google search for that phrase and everything you find will be far right, if it's not denouncing the term as offensive.

kovucougar November 4 2009, 17:34:32 UTC

"Activist Judge" is a term dreamed up by the far right who are trying to castrate the judicial portion of "checks and balances".

http://frank-schaeffer.blogspot.com/2009/09/912-marchers-and-far-right-subversives.html

arlon November 4 2009, 17:53:25 UTC

Well, yes and no. "Activist" is bandied around far more often by the right, but look at the link in my LJ, it's used pretty much by anyone who disagrees with a judicial decision.

That's the whole reason why prop 8 was originally proposed in California. The christian/mormon radicals didn't agree with the "Activist Judges".

Sadly not surprised... j_wolfspirit November 4 2009, 22:17:58 UTC

Honestly, I wish I could be, but I'm just not surprised anymore that every time they're is a big vote the majority tends to vote against gay marriage, civil unions, and gay rights in general. It makes me angry, and while we are making progress in many states, and we do have the occasional wins, they're is still a lot of bigotry in this country toward homosexuality. So much so, that I think it will be hard to earn our right to marry ( ... )

Re: Sadly not surprised... kovucougar November 4 2009, 22:33:56 UTC

In Seattle, and most of King County you are correct.

Just be careful if you ever travel over those mountains...

What's even more frustrating is that according to http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/VoterTurnout.aspx?ElectionID=32 only ~25% of King County population voted, while this is also the most open and accepting "center" in Washington. 66% or more would have passed it, if they'd all gotten out to vote.

Way back when this all started I made the statement that the other side only needed apathy to win. This proves it. Even if the vote carries forward and Ref 71 passes, it still proves it.

We're a minority people (10%) to whom the "other side" is a large right religious block (50% or so of the population). Unless we manage to get the remaining 40% engaged we will never "win" in show of civil strength.

That 40% just doesn't care enough about us. They don't need to.

Re: Sadly not surprised... graemelion November 4 2009, 22:53:24 UTC

Sadly, I think you're going to be right on this one regarding apathy.

There's not enough to convince enough people that this is a good thing. They may not be convinced it's bad, but people vote issues in off years. If it doesn't matter to them, they don't move.

Re: Sadly not surprised... kovucougar November 4 2009, 22:38:20 UTC

Make that closer to 1/3rd of King County eligible voters currently accounted for. I misread the table initially.

Thread 7