Whose politics is this?

[Libre]

Someone I know was telling me via email that they wanted to have the states decide issue like abortion and gay marriage. If a woman wanted an abortion, she would have to go to that state to have it done. And if a same-sex couple wanted to marry and have it recognized, they would have to move to a state where it was legal and live there.

Poorly thought out and flawed philosophy on so many levels, but does anyone know who promotes this? I didn't ask the sender of the email, because we are old friends and you have to pick your battles.

[Alecto]

I've got to ask: how does this person feel about straight people's marriages being nullified if they leave their home state?

[Matt Algren]

It's a fairly Libertarian/Federalist POV. State's Rights and all that.

Originally, the US was thought of as more like the EU: a collection of sovereign and separate governments that agreed to some basic laws and legal philosophies, but were left to their own devices on most issues.

As time has gone by, we've reversed our view. Now we see ourselves as more of a subdivided singular nation, though many laws are different from state to state. We differ on how taxes are paid, whether smoking is permitted in public places, and whether limited gambling is legal, but we agree to abide by the same rules of immigration, monetary system, banking system, welfare, warfare, and social security.

Federalists see the states as more important than the union, and most others see the union as more important than the states. Of course, I'm waaaay oversimplifying, but to be honest, I see their point.

(Federalism is the reason Bob Barr (who wrote DOMA in 1996) said this week (http://blog.mattalgren.com/2009/01/author-of-defense-of-marriage-act-doma-has-to-go/) that it should be repealed.)

[Libre]

Thank you, Matt. It clears up a lot. And I love The Tuning Fork and have put in my Google Reader.

It never ceases to amaze me how otherwise loving, intelligent, born again people can believe such a load of manure when it comes to today's hot button issues. But then, I was them - once. Still, it's a mystery why some few of us are willing to challenge our beliefs and to change when we learn truth. God lead me every step of the way, and I am so thankful to be free.