Posted on 07/02/2015 6:51:37 AM PDT by xzins
Conservatives are reeling after two outrageous decisions last week by the Supreme Court. In one case they reinterpreted Obamacare so that established by the state magically meant or the federal government. In another, they redefined marriageeven though nothing in our Constitution gives the court the authority to do that.
What do we do now?
The Obamacare case is the simpler of the two when it comes to next steps. While the court refused to enforce the plain meaning of the text, Congress can still vote to repeal Obamacare and replace it with patient-focused, market-based healthcare reforms that will truly serve all Americans. Obamacare remains unworkable, unaffordable and unpopular. Congress must act to repeal it.
Responding to the marriage decision will be more complicated. It will require a commitment to the long haul. This bad decision cannot be remedied in any single bill, or vote or election cyclethough all of those can certainly soften the blow.
The problem is that right when American citizens were in the middle of crucially important deliberations about marriage policy, five unelected judges shut down that democratic process and declared the conversation closed.
In many ways, we are in a similar situation as the pro-life movement was after Roe v. Wade. Roe didnt change the truth about unborn children or about our Constitution. And for 42 years the pro-life movement has been reminding us of thatand working to build a culture of life.
We must do the same. We cant allow the judicial usurpation of politics to go uncontested. We have to commit now to bearing witness to the truth about marriagea permanent and exclusive union of man and woman, husband and wife, father and motherand work to restore our constitutional authority as citizens to make marriage policy that serves the common good by reflecting this truth.
How do we do that? Here are five steps.
First, elections have consequences. The marriage ruling was 5-4. Two of the justices voting to redefine marriage were appointed by President Obama. The next president is expected to have the opportunity to appoint as many as four Supreme Court justices.
If you care about the rule of law and our Constitution, you cant afford to sit out this next election. It is very likely that the court will soon take a religious liberty case deciding whether citizens who do not believe in same-sex marriage will have their constitutional rights protected. Better justices, better outcome.
The next president will also determine which legislation is signed and which is vetoedand how to exercise leadership in the executive branch in a way that either continues to undermine, or begins to rebuild, the meaning of marriage in law and culture.
Second, policy matters. We The People, and our elected representatives in Congress and state legislatures, can make policy that prohibits the government from violating our rights. This is why the First Amendment Defense Act is so vitally important. If passed and signed into law, this act would prohibit the federal government from ever discriminating against any citizen, charity, school or business because they embrace and act on the belief that marriage is the union of a man and woman.
Just as the pro-life movement ensured that no pro-life citizen would ever have to pay for an abortion or perform an abortion, so too must we work to ensure no one is coerced to act against their conscience on the matter of marriage. Rather than go to court suing for religious liberty exemptions, this bill would prevent the government from ever acting unjustly in the first place.
Third, the states matter. If you are concerned about faith-based adoption agencies shutting down, or bakers and florists and photographers being fined thousands of dollars simply for declining to celebrate a same-sex wedding, then you need to also be concerned about state and local policy.
In each of these cases, it wasnt the federal government acting on federal law that brought the burden; it was state and local government. We need good policy at all levels of government.
Governors have an opportunity right now to issue executive orders preventing state agencies from discriminating against or otherwise penalizing citizens and organizations that continue to believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman. State legislatures can pass laws doing the same.
Fourth, ideas matter. The judicial redefinition of marriage has no basis in our Constitution, but it didnt come out of thin air. For the last 50 years, we have not done enough to combat the faulty liberal ideology that has wreaked havoc on Americas families.
Redefining marriage is only possible in a culture that has accepted the results of the Sexual Revolution, like non-marital childbearing and no-fault divorce, and so many other bad ideas about human sexuality and the family.
Already some progressives are using the courts redefinition of marriage to go further. On Friday, the same day that the court redefined marriage, Politico ran an essay titled, Its Time to Legalize Polygamy: Why group marriage is the next horizon of social liberalism.
With few notable exceptions, far too many leaders have been silent on these issues. Far too few scholars have been willing to tell the truth. We need to speak up if we are to win these arguments.
Fifth, our lives matter. Ideas go only so far, but the beauty of lived witness is what moves people the most. Its not just that for 50 years weve bought into a lie about marriage; its that we havent lived out the truth.
Even if government policy tells a lie about marriage for a time, we must refuse to believe the lie when it comes to how we live our lives and what we teach our children. Raising children and grandchildren to believe the truthand, more importantly, live out the truthmust be done with all diligence, and we must form communities of virtue to help one another do that.
Of course, communities of virtue will not be allowed to exist in the United States if some activists on the left get their way. These ideologues want to use the force of government to treat ordinary Americans who believe marriage is the union of man and woman as if they are racists.
We must not allow them to succeed. We must work on policy and culture, ideas and actions, to ensure our rights are protected and we have the long-term ability to rebuild a strong marriage culture.
America is in a time of transition. The court has redefined marriage, and beliefs about human sexuality are changing. Will the right to dissent be protected? Will the right of Americans to speak and act in accord with what the United States had always believed about marriagethat its a union of husband and wifebe tolerated?
Most Americans say yes, they want to be a tolerant, pluralistic nation. They want peaceful coexistence. We agree with them. But far too many ideologues and activists want to sow the seeds of disharmony by having the government coerce those with whom they disagree. We must work together to protect these cherished American values.
While Americans are free to live as they choose, no one should demand that government coerce others into celebrating their relationship. All Americans should remain free to believe and act in the public square based on their beliefs about marriage without fear of government penalty. After all, protecting religious liberty and the rights of conscience does not infringe on anyones sexual freedoms.
The First Amendment Defense Act is one way of achieving civil peace even amid disagreement. To protect pluralism and the rights of all Americans, of whatever faith they may practice, this act is good policy. Liberals committed to tolerance should embrace it.
Give me a few million and I’ll show you a viable one.
I’m just rolling with the ‘Evil purist’ meme. Kinda takes the fun out of their drooling for them when you play along.
/Darth Lenhart ;)
Besides, we can see the future and Jedi can’t...
No doubt, if indeed YOU had control of the money, and not some “organization”.
“Darth Lenhart ;)”
Actually, that ain’t half bad.
Me, you, pretty much anyone that actually believes in something.
Palin figured out how to direct the media for 3 years with a blog. Organizing a 3rd party is considerably less of a challenge.
I’m half German. It is my nature to rule with an iron hand. ;)
The problem is bigger than just these rotten decisions. Five black robed lawyer Kings are now our ultimate rulers. The cure is Article V
If you can make Wienerschnitzel , you have my vote.
No but I can drive to one in Bullhead City for takeout at one. Close enough?
I used to do a killer Beef Stroganoff though...
Hey is it just me or is there some connection between really gay sounding food and Germany?
> “Hostage: Jim, lets cut to the chaste, youre not in tune man.
> “Cut to the “chaste.” Really?”
You’re right, typing too fast I meant to type “cut to the chase”. Thanks for pointing out the error.
Just remember this....German chocolate cake(on of my favorites) is not German atoll!
It was created by a guy named German.
“German atoll”
Who’d want a cake that big in the middle of the ocean? ;)
I meant to type “atall”
Flubbed it....
So I then assume it was a cake of layers stacked really high ;)
Additionally, look at the tie-break rules in the Constitution for a presidential election in which no candidate has a majority of the electors.
To be very honest with you, I make the best wienerschitzel I’ve tasted outside of Germany. I missed it so much, I went and figured it out.
If you get bored, FReepmail me the recipe. My old pal in Austria gave it to me, but I lost it when I moved. Rats!
If you get bored, FReepmail me the recipe. My old pal in Austria gave it to me, but I lost it when I moved. Rats!
3 layers is what I remember.
I made a cake once. I used Braut.
It was the wurst...
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