Florida's Amendment 2 (stupidity in action)

Well look at this two blogs in one day; I bet you never thought you’d see this did you? Now you’re probably wondering what drove me to post a second time today aren’t you? It’s called Amendment 2 and it is an issue included on the November ’08 ballot here in Florida. This Amendment would remove all rights and benefits of couples registered as Domestic Partners. This would affect a number of people that I can’t even begin to count since I am too lazy to do so. At least two other states have implemented similar amendments with results that the people of Florida really need to think about. This is a state that relies heavily upon tourist dollars to support our economy and to get tourists to come to our state and spend their money we need to keep an image that promotes trust and equality.


The Domestic Partnership registration is something that is available for couples to do instead of going through the motions of a traditional church wedding or even a service by a justice of the peace so that they are able to take advantage of being able to enroll in insurance programs within their places of work. Over 50% of Florida businesses offer insurance benefits for registered Domestic Partners; though they are still at a slightly higher rate than if they are officially married they at least get to have coverage plans that are more efficient than if they had to get a separate policy for each person. This is seen as a sort of loophole in the four laws already passed that make it illegal for same-sex couples to get married in the state of Florida in that it allows these couples to become Domestic Partners and therefore entitle them to sign up for shared benefits with their employers (if it is offered by the employer). This amendment however would make it against the law for not only same-sex couples but opposite-sex couples as well to register and get these benefits. In doing this it would not only make it more difficult for all of these couples to get insurance or other benefits since they would now have to get separate policies or even none at all and costing them even more money per month as they pay for these new benefit policies. If this happens then what happened in Michigan when that state passed a similar law just a few months ago might just happen here; it was nothing short of a mass exodus by people affected by the law to pack up and leave the state to move elsewhere that would allow them to live their lives happily and able to have peace of mind when it came to medical and life insurance.


This law would mar the happy friendly image that Florida is always trying to put forward to entice tourists to visit our sunny state and spend their money and make us happy friendly people with some money. If I was in a Domestic Partnership, which I am, and I lived elsewhere I would seriously be looking for another place to visit on vacation other than Florida; because the way the state treats these partnerships of their own citizens makes me think that if I visited then I would be treated unfairly by them as well; so why would I want to visit sunny happy Florida at all then. So if these tourists choose not to visit Florida then they won’t be spending their money here; if they don’t spend their money here then our great and all-knowing political leaders will put into effect more taxes so that they can keep their special jets for flying around and to pay for public works projects (maybe then they’ll finally stop building stuff on the Turnpike) and we will all end up with less money than we have now. Try and buy gas for your car when you’re $10/hour paycheck ends up after taxes, insurance, and food to feed yourself and your family to be about $1 for every hard worked hour.


I bet you are wondering why my “domestic partner” and I haven’t just gotten married the traditional church way or even just go to the courthouse and get it over with that way. Well I’ll tell you why, this was faster and cheaper since all we had to do was show up with $50 and proof that not only do we both live in the same dwelling but also that we share responsibility of bills. There was none of the hurdles needed to jump over just to get a marriage license and then sitting through counseling with a clergyman so that he can decide whether or not we should get married; all of which would cost a heck of a lot more than $50. This is not something that should be decided by someone who most often isn’t even allowed to get married in the first place by the rules of his own sect nor is this a decision that we want celebrated in a church anyways; especially since the two of us have views that differ towards the heretic or pagan even by the thoughts of standard clergy. Yes eventually we will go ahead and pay that extra money for an official marriage license and get married by a justice of the peace (pretty much anyone who is a notary public can do this…so what are you doing in a year or so Mom?).


This amendment also affects me because it is another way that religious fanatics in this country are trying to force their views on the rest of us. Things like that really tic me off; and for some reason lately the religious faiths have decided that their fight against homosexuality is the reason everything happens. Idiots in their camp have blamed homosexuality for things as far-fetched as Hurricane Katrina, deaths in Iraq/Afghanistan, and even the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. Of course those things are not cause by anything logical like weather or the acts of other religious fanatics; no of course not why should anything sensible be at fault when they can come up with homosexuality is the reason for all things bad happening. Does anyone else think that these people might possibly be spending too much time reading just one book? Try something new once in a while, read a new book and immerse yourself into a story that allows you to use your brain for something other than putting innocent people at fault for random acts; or you can just go ahead and burn them like you probably have been lately anyways. Why do these people feel the need to push their beliefs on everyone else; why do they feel the need to implement their own religious rules to be the rules of the entire country for even those who are not members of their religion? I don’t know why someone would be homosexual whether they are born that way or just one day out of the blue they decide to be that way; I just don’t know and neither does anyone else and you know what I really don’t care. I think that the way someone wants to live their life is their choice and nobody else’s, remember that the basis of the founding of this country is that every person is created equal and entitled to their life, their liberty and the pursuit of happiness as they see fit.


They have already won their fight against same-sex couples actually being officially married and listed as married couples in the past; FOUR (4) times in the past. Now here in Florida same-sex couples can become Domestic Partners, not husband/husband or wife/wife (or however they choose to describe themselves), but merely Domestic Partner. I have a domestic partner and the two of us describe ourselves as husband and wife; why do you ask? Well because in our hearts and minds we were married already three years ago and we don’t particularly like having to say in a conversation or when relating a story about the other “oh well my domestic partner did this the other day” that’s just too much to say to keep someone interested in the story; in addition to confusing them and now they want some clarification on that term. Anyways the church-whackos (my term) have won their fight four times already against same-sex marriages so why are they doing this amendment to take the last bit of equality away from people, I don’t think even they know why beyond that they believe that they are right and so everyone should do as they say.


Here’s another reason why this amendment is not just a bad idea it’s an extremely stupid and potentially damaging one. If two people (their sexuality doesn’t matter) were to be living together as Domestic Partners and this law went into effect they would no longer be Domestic Partners; therefore if either of them decided one night to beat the crap out of the other one it would fall under the crime of battery and not the more serious crime of domestic battery or even spousal abuse. Therefore if they were no accused of the lesser charge and it is a first offense then they would most likely get a reduced sentence or probation and a minor fine instead of the jail time they deserve.


Now doesn’t Amendment 2 sound like a fair deal and a good idea to vote into effect? If you don’t think so then I hope you vote against this act of hatred and discrimination. However If you do think that it is a good idea, well then you’re a big poopie head and I can say whatever I like since this is a land of the right to free speech so nyah. VOTE NO to Amendment 2 (if you’re in Florida, if not then vote NO to whatever amendment you don’t like in your state that is on the ballot). Puppy pictures will be up next