New poll shows 61% of Americans support same sex marriage

TerranceL said:

They are both things that don't effect you in the least and both things that people like you wanted banned because it hurt their feelings.

Click to expand...

As the old saying goes:
"If it neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg, what business of mine is it?"

People need to keep that one in mind across the board.

Far too often we see people using that logic for the things they like, but then completely forgetting that line of thinking when it comes to their personal preference for things they don't like.

I've always been a firm believer that if what I'm doing isn't violating the rights of someone else's, it's nobody's business (including the government's) to tell me that I can't. (thus my political affiliation icon )

People need to stop prohibiting things they don't like for other people based on what they find "offensive"...there's no such thing as "a right not to be offended".

...and that goes for numerous things...not just the same-sex debates.

AvilaSurfer said:

Yeah cuz that's exactly the same thing.

Click to expand...

Like all those black people who chose to be black?

Or is it gay people chosing to be gay?
I can never remember.

The sanctity of marriage between heterosexual couples is where anti-same sex marriage folks should REALLY be placing their energy.
Watch Married at First Sight Full Episodes & Videos Online - FYI Network

Two gay dudes who've been in love for a long time and are committed is no threat to the sanctity of marriage. The above noted show is SOOOOO much more damaging.

rambot said:

Like all those black people who chose to be black?

Or is it gay people chosing to be gay?
I can never remember.

The sanctity of marriage between heterosexual couples is where anti-same sex marriage folks should REALLY be placing their energy.
Watch Married at First Sight Full Episodes & Videos Online - FYI Network

Two gay dudes who've been in love for a long time and are committed is no threat to the sanctity of marriage. The above noted show is SOOOOO much more damaging.

Click to expand...

I always find it curious that the "sanctity of marriage" people never want divorce banned.

Probably because there's an actual chance they'd get a divorce while there's not much of a chance they'd get a same sex marriage.

The idea of the government being involved in marriage is kind of a joke to begin with. Like with most other things government sticks their nose in...the ruin it

Terrence mentioned divorce, which is why I thought of this.

82nd congress were the ones with the 'genius' idea that the government should provide certain (tax/financial) incentives for people to get married.

Low and behold...the divorce rate nearly tripled in the 15 years to follow that.

To me, that indicates that the government's tempting tax changes encouraged people to get married that would not have otherwise, and within 5 years, they realized "I don't want to be married to this person, the financial benefits aren't worth it".

miniverchivi said:

The idea of the government being involved in marriage is kind of a joke to begin with. Like with most other things government sticks their nose in...the ruin it

Terrence mentioned divorce, which is why I thought of this.

82nd congress were the ones with the 'genius' idea that the government should provide certain (tax/financial) incentives for people to get married.

Low and behold...the divorce rate nearly tripled in the 15 years to follow that.

To me, that indicates that the government's tempting tax changes encouraged people to get married that would not have otherwise, and within 5 years, they realized "I don't want to be married to this person, the financial benefits aren't worth it".

Click to expand...

So is infidelity no longer a reason people may get divorced? I've literally never heard of that happening in my life (on tv doesn't count). I'm sure there could be a greater social context that is being misrepresented. There would be a very small portion of married folks who would fall into that catagory in my mind. They may think it, but I'd wager it would lead into "unacceptable" behaviour and that would be the cause of divorce.
I fail to see correlation = causation.

rambot said:

So is infidelity no longer a reason people may get divorced? I've literally never heard of that happening in my life (on tv doesn't count). I'm sure there could be a greater social context that is being misrepresented. There would be a very small portion of married folks who would fall into that catagory in my mind. They may think it, but I'd wager it would lead into "unacceptable" behaviour and that would be the cause of divorce.
I fail to see correlation = causation.

Click to expand...

Was there a spike in infidelity during that time period? None that I'm aware of...to the best of my knowledge, infidelity has been one of those dirty little secrets that has always (and will) always be around in our society. (unfortunately).

I realize that correlation doesn't always = causation.

...but, in this instance, I feel a strong case can be made. There were no other significant changes to marriage (aside from the aforementioned tax changes) around that time, so I think it seems more likely that the changes had an impact rather than the divorce rate just magically tripling on its own with no outside factors involved.

miniverchivi said:

As the old saying goes:
"If it neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg, what business of mine is it?"

People need to keep that one in mind across the board.

Far too often we see people using that logic for the things they like, but then completely forgetting that line of thinking when it comes to their personal preference for things they don't like.

I've always been a firm believer that if what I'm doing isn't violating the rights of someone else's, it's nobody's business (including the government's) to tell me that I can't. (thus my political affiliation icon )

People need to stop prohibiting things they don't like for other people based on what they find "offensive"...there's no such thing as "a right not to be offended".

...and that goes for numerous things...not just the same-sex debates.

Click to expand...

And the Republican party has a habit of either doing that or wanting to do that all while talking about how they are for "less government."

It's such a joke. And when I point out that the GOP isn't for "less government" on issues A, B, and C, I either get ignored or (in specific cases) the the "small government" person in question says HE/SHE DOESN'T CARE about that subject.

On another site I go to, one of the conservatives, a noted "Constitutionalist" said he doesn't care about war. As in he doesn't care about where our troops were sent, and why. He's more worried about the Democrats Splinter Celling their way into his house to steal all his guns.

It doesn't surprise me and is very good news. Of course the south is always behind on everything. In the south people are still shocked when they see a mixed race couple together. (I have some experience with this.)

I will wait to see what happens as time goes along and the numbers increase. Right now, right wingers are trying to rally the troops (as per Bobby Jindal), but I don't believe that will last. Because when a politician's view is a minority view in his/her constituency s/he will begin to lose votes. So we will soon see whether their beliefs are more important than their lust for power.

TerranceL said:

I always find it curious that the "sanctity of marriage" people never want divorce banned.

Probably because there's an actual chance they'd get a divorce while there's not much of a chance they'd get a same sex marriage.

Click to expand...

It is quite telling that the things that actually do destroy the "sanctity of marriage" such as divorce or adultery they never speak about.

Also quite telling that there is a laser focus on homosexuality as a sin, yet ignoring the plethora of other sins regularly committed.

Maren said:

It also shows that 61% of Americans support that states be required to perform same sex marriages, and 62% think states should recognize same sex marriages performed in other states.

"This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cell phone April 16-20, 2015, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,016 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points. The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, N.Y."

Link

Click to expand...

Most of the people I know do not support it and never will support it. Sadly, it is becoming more accepted everyday.... Propaganda works.... It doesn't matter what TV program it is....they feature homosexuals on the program, trying to make them appear as if they are just normal couples with everyday issues.... The Bible says, "By beholding you become changed..." The more you are around something, the less offensive it becomes until finally it starts to look acceptable and even normal. TV has been a huge factor in helping people to accept homosexuality, along with every other kind of sin. Very sad....

If traditional marriage was so sacred to Christians in the country they claim is Christian, then divorce would not be legal or so prevalent among Christians.

Red Fox said:

If traditional marriage was so sacred to Christians in the country they claim is Christian, then divorce would not be legal or so prevalent among Christians.

Click to expand...

Divorce shouldn't be so prevalent amongst Christians...but it should be legal nonetheless as there are many men/women who don't keep their marriage vows and/or become abusive... No one should have to stay married under those circumstances...not even Christians.

Tammy said:

The Bible says, "By beholding you become changed..."

Click to expand...

Uh, you realize that passage is a reference to the Beatific vision?

Tammy said:

Divorce shouldn't be so prevalent amongst Christians...but it should be legal nonetheless

Click to expand...

I feel the same way about gay marriages. Whether my religion believes in them or not, they should still be legal because we can't impose our religious beliefs on others.

smaneck said:

I feel the same way about gay marriages. Whether my religion believes in them or not, they should still be legal because we can't impose our religious beliefs on others.

Click to expand...

That's exactly right.

Savior2006 said:

And the Republican party has a habit of either doing that or wanting to do that all while talking about how they are for "less government."

It's such a joke. And when I point out that the GOP isn't for "less government" on issues A, B, and C, I either get ignored or (in specific cases) the the "small government" person in question says HE/SHE DOESN'T CARE about that subject.

On another site I go to, one of the conservatives, a noted "Constitutionalist" said he doesn't care about war. As in he doesn't care about where our troops were sent, and why. He's more worried about the Democrats Splinter Celling their way into his house to steal all his guns.

Click to expand...

Thus the society we live in lol.

We're given a choice between 2 'big-government' parties, both of whom are making claims of being the party of "more freedom".

I think both parties overstep their bounds, however, the democrats do a better job of choosing their words carefully, and putting distance between themselves and any wackos that might lean left...as to where the republicans have the habit of going "ready, fire, aim" when it comes to presenting their ideas, and they do a terrible job of distancing themselves from some of the fringe folks that claim to be affiliated.

There are some republicans who practice what they preach in terms of small government especially on the topic of marriage...
Congressman Charlie Dent
Senator Mark Kirk
Senator Susan Collins
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman
Senator Rob Portman



There are people who run as democrats who I feel are reasonable in most areas as well...

In our society, the media controls perception in the eyes of many...and in this country, liberal media outnumbers conservative media, and the conservative media that is out there does an absolutely terrible job of portraying the political affiliation.

Mind you, I'm not trying to make excuses for republicans, they shoot themselves in the foot in many cases...and in the long term, they'll probably end up phasing themselves out and making way for a new breed of conservatives.

TerranceL said:

They are both things that don't effect you in the least and both things that people like you wanted banned because it hurt their feelings.

Click to expand...

So is inappropriate behavior with animals. Does that make it the same thing as either of them?

TerranceL said:

I always find it curious that the "sanctity of marriage" people never want divorce banned.

Click to expand...

I'd actually like to see that tightened up. I'd be in favor of making divorce much harder to legally obtain.

Maren said:

I think this is another instance where Republican candidates will need to appeal to the religious right to win nomination. Of course, after they are nominated, they will have to backtrack to try and "win back" the 66% of Independent voters that support same sex marriage; especially when 64% of these Independents don't believe states should be allowed to ban same sex marriage.

Click to expand...

I mentioned this in another thread, but trying to continue the appeal to the religious right is a short sighted plan that will bite them in the butt (and maybe already has started doing that).

As time progresses on, people are getting less and less religious as a whole...and as a result, an appeal to the religious right adds less and less value to a campaign. It's like to trying to form a strategy that appeals to people who don't use the internet.

In a 2011 study, it was reported that 26.8% of US citizens identify as evangelicals. Meaning, if you're appealing to them, you'd better hope you have a game plan that appeals to another 25% of the population if you want a shot at winning.

When that number was around 40%, that strategy might have made a little more sense...

Sketcher said:

So is inappropriate behavior with animals. Does that make it the same thing as either of them?

Click to expand...

You do realize that inappropriate behavior with animals is legal in many states right?