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Kentucky joins the 21st Century

“Sometimes, by upholding equal rights for a few, courts necessarily must require others to forebear some prior conduct or restrain some personal instinct,” Heyburn wrote. “Here, that would not seem to be the case. Assuring equal protection for same-sex couples does not diminish the freedom of others to any degree.”  

Federal Judge Heyburn hit the nail on the head with his decision striking down Kentucky’s anti-marriage law.

Judge Heyburn (approximation)

Judge Heyburn (approximation)

 “Even assuming the state has a legitimate interest in promoting procreation, the Court fails to see, and Defendant never explains, how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage has any effect whatsoever on procreation among heterosexual spouses. Excluding same-sex couples from marriage does not change the number of heterosexual couples who choose to get married, the number who choose to have children, or the number of children they have … The Court finds no rational relation between the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the Commonwealth’s asserted interest in promoting naturally procreative marriages.”

Sadly, the Governor of Kentucky has vowed to appeal the decision.  It’s sad because he’s a Democrat.  Kentucky’s Democratic Attorney General refused to defend the law in court (because, as any lawyer who understands the law will tell you, it is legally indefensible), like our own AG here in Pennsylvania.

However, given that the anti-marriage folks have won exactly zero appeals makes me pretty optimistic that this appeal will also be a failure.

Editorial cartoon: the narrow ruling

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The good political news about the Hobby Lobby case

A majority of Americans (58%), when polled a month or so ago, were in favor of the requirement that private health coverage must cover all forms of birth control.

I daresay that when polls are completed about the Hobby Lobby case that a majority of Americans will disagree with it.

So why is this good news? Because anger makes people vote.

One of the reasons conservatives have won a bunch of elections lately is because the right knows this.  They get their voters angry so that they get to the voting booths.  They have an entire TV network dedicated to making its viewers angry.

And liberals and Democrats just aren’t angry enough.   

As I’ve pointed out many times, the majority of Americans agree with Democrats on almost every important issue. A majority of Americans support Obamacare. anger (This is especially true if you call it “the Affordable Care Act.”) A majority thinks gay marriage, abortion and marijuana should be legal. A majority supports more gun control. A majority wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and do not believe that “corporations are people.” A majority want to raise the minimum wage and do something about campaign finance reform.   And a majority support amending the Constitution to overturn the Citizen’s United case. These issues are not leftist dreams. They are mainstream. They are moderate.

So if a majority of Americans agree with Democrats and disagree with the Republicans why don’t we Democrats win more?

Because we aren’t angry enough.  Because we don’t get out and vote.

However, that has been changing lately, and the polls are showing this.  Latinos, who are generally more conservative (thanks to their religious background) are abandoning the Republicans in huge numbers because of their anti-immigration policies.   Women are now massively supporting Democrats.  And young people are rejecting Republicans by huge margins.

But — here’s the key — so far, they haven’t been angry enough to vote.

So the good news is that this will help.

Stay angry, my friends.

Editorial cartoon: We can’t have that…

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Supreme Court: Corporations over women

A few days ago, we learned that dead people have more rights than women.  Now we learn that corporations have more rights than women, too.

As you probably know, Hobby Lobby won their ridiculous case (I wrote about that here, here, and here months ago).   While I am sad, I am not shocked.

I remember being shocked in law school when I read an opinion from Scalia that dealt with a similar issue, as to whether an employer could refuse to provide contraception for women (including abortions) but still provide it for men, and Scalicorporations-over-wethepeoplea’s logic was that the law did not discriminate against women — it merely discriminated against pregnant people.

Later, he ruled that the 14th Amendment which says that there can be no discrimination against “people” didn’t apply to women who wanted to be treated as equals in the military. “That’s different,” he said.

So this is nothing new. Women, in Scalia’s mind, aren’t really “people.”

This is what happens when you make corporations into people. They start having religions and then want to force everyone else to live by their religious laws.

So now religious law is more important than the secular law — but only for employers.  Got that?

Why do these people get to decide how to spend my money?  Health benefits belong to me, just like my salary.  Why does my boss get to decide how I want to use them?  Can my boss dock my salary if I decide to spend it on things he doesn’t like?

That’s the bottom line many people don’t get.  This is about who decides, and once more the Supreme Court has ruled that the power in this country belongs with the corporations and 1%, not with “we, the people.”

I see that the anti-gay religious folks are thrilled. After all, if the religion of the employer is more important than the law, then clearly employers can now discriminate against gays and lesbians if it offends their “deeply held religious views.”

And why stop there? I’m sure there are religious employers whose religion tells them they can discriminate against Jews, or women, or blacks.

Heck, there are enough gods out there that you can easily find one to worship that will allow you to ignore just about every law you want.

So what do we do?  How can we overturn this decision?

Well, you can’t.

What you can do is vote.  Vote in every election, not just the Presidential one.  Fill our government with Democrats who will put into place a single-payer system that we should have done in the first place.  That will solve many problems as well as make this decision completely irrelevant and moot.

Editorial cartoon: Jimmied buffers

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I am a Marxist

The writings and saying of Marx have definitely influenced me over the years, and today I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you:

“From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.”

“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”139283_o

“I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.”

“I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll make an exception.”

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”

[When told that he couldn’t swim in an exclusive club because he was Jewish]: “My son is only half Jewish, can he go in up to his waist?”

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”

“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”

“Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.”

“A man’s only as old as the woman he feels.”

“I’ll always remember the first time I had sex. I kept the receipt.”

“I chased a girl for two years only to discover that her tastes were exactly like mine: We were both crazy about girls.”

“Oh, are you from Wales? Do you know a fella named Jonah? He used to live in whales for a while.”

“I’ve been around so long I can remember Doris Day before she was a virgin.”

“She got her good looks from her father. He’s a plastic surgeon.”

“The only game I like to play is ‘Old Maid’, providing she’s not too old.”

“Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted.”

“If you fall out of that window and break both your legs, don’t come running to me.”

Animal Crackers:

“We took some pictures of the native girls but they weren’t developed. But we’re going back again in a few weeks!”

“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.”

“You know, you two girls have everything. You’re tall and short and slim and stout and blonde and brunette. And that’s just the kind of a girl I crave. Why, you’ve got beauty, charm, money! You have got money, haven’t you? Because if you haven’t, we can quit right now.”

Mrs. Rittenhouse: “You are one of the musicians? But you were not due until tomorrow.”
Chico: “Couldn’t come tomorrow. That’s too quick.”
Groucho: “Say, you’re lucky they didn’t come yesterday.”
C: “We were busy yesterday, but we charge just the same.”
G: This is better than exploring. What do you fellows get an hour?”
C: Ah, for playing we getta ten dollars an hour.”
G: I see. What do you get for not playing?”
C: Twelve dollars an hour.”
G: Well, clip me off a piece of that.”
C: Now… for rehearsing, we make a special rate, that’sa fifteen dollars an hour.”
G: That’s for rehearsing.”
C: That’sa for rehearsing.”
G: And what do you get for not rehearsing?”
C: You couldn’t afford it.You see if we don’t rehearse we don’t play. And if we don’t play, that runs into money.”
G: “How much would you charge to run into an open manhole?”
C: “Just the cover charge.”
G: “Well, drop in sometime.”
C: “Sewer.”

G: “I used to know a fellow who looked exactly like you by the name of Emanuel Ravelli. Are you his brother?”
C: “I am Emanuel Ravelli.”
G: “You’re Emanuel Ravelli?”
C: “I am Emanuel Ravelli.”
G: “Well, no wonder you look like him. But I still insist there is a resemblance.”
C: “Heh, heh, he thinks I look alike.”
G: “Well, if you do, it’s a tough break for both of you. [directly to camera] Well, all the jokes can’t be good. You’ve got to expect that once in a while.”

C: [while playing the same first part of a song over and over] I can’t think of the finish!
G: That’s funny, I can’t think of anything else.

“Signore Ravelli’s first selection will be ‘Somewhere My Love Lies Sleeping’ with a male chorus.”

“Well, art is art, isn’t it? Still, on the other hand, water is water! And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh… Now you tell me what you know.”

“Do you mind if I don’t smoke?”

Monkey Business:

“I know, I know, you’re a woman who’s been getting nothing but dirty breaks. Well, we can clean and tighten your brakes, but you’ll have to stay in the garage all night.”

“I’ve been looking for a girl like you — not you, but a girl like you.”

“Sir, are you trying to offer me a bribe? How much?”

Horse Feathers:

“Why don’t you go home to your wife? I’ll tell you what: I’ll go home to your wife, and outside of the improvement she’ll never know the difference.”

Groucho: “Tomorrow we start tearing down the college.”
The Professors: “But Professor, where will the students sleep?”
G: “Where they always sleep. In the classroom.”

Chico: “There’s a man outside with a big black mustache.”
Groucho: “Tell him I’ve got one.”

Groucho: [directly to the camera while Chico plays the piano] “I’ve got to stay here, but there’s no reason why you folks shouldn’t go out into the lobby until this thing blows over.”

Groucho: “Are you suggesting that I, the president of Huxley College, go into a speakeasy without even giving me the address?”

Duck Soup:

Groucho: “Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you: he really is an idiot. I implore you, send him back to his father and brothers, who are waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. I suggest that we give him ten years in Leavenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth.”
Chico: “I’ll tell you what I’ll do: I’ll take five and ten in Woolworth.”

“You’re a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you’re out there risking you’re life and limb through shot and shell, we’ll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are.”

“Well, that covers a lot of ground. Say, you cover a lot of ground yourself. You better beat it – I hear they’re going to tear you down and put up an office building where you’re standing. You can leave in a taxi. If you can’t get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that’s too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff. You know, you haven’t stopped talking since I came here? You must have been vaccinated with a phonograph needle.”

“Go, and never darken my towels again!”

“Here are the plans of war. They’re as valuable as your life. And that’s putting them pretty cheap. Watch them like a cat watched her kittens. Have you ever had kittens? No, of course not, you’re too busy running around playing bridge. Can’t you see what I’m trying to tell you? I love you.”

Beautiful Girl: “Hold me closer… closer… closer….”
Groucho: “If I hold you any closer, I’ll be in back of you.”

Groucho: “Not that I care, but where is your husband?”
Mrs. Teasedale: “Why, he’s dead.”
G: “I’ll bet he’s just using that as an excuse.”
T: “I was with him till the very end.”
G: “Huh! No wonder he passed away.”
T: “I held him in my arms and kissed him.”
G: “Oh, I see. Then it was murder. Will you marry me? Did he leave you any money? Answer the second question first.”
T: “He left me his entire fortune.”
G: “Is that so? Can’t you see what I’m trying to tell you? I love you.”

Mrs. Teasdale: “Notables from every country are gathered here in your honor. This is a gala day for you.”
Groucho: “Well, a gal a day is enough for me. I don’t think I could handle any more.”

Groucho: “Lieutenant, why weren’t the original indictment papers placed in my portfolio?”
Zeppo: “Why, uh, I didn’t think those papers were important at this time, your excellency.”
G: “You didn’t think they were important? Do you realize I had my dessert wrapped in those papers?”

A Night at the Opera:

Chico: “Hey, wait – wait! What does this say here? This thing here?”
Groucho: “Oh, that? Oh, that’s the usual clause. That’s in every contract. That just says if any of the parties participating in this contract is shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.”
C: “Well, I don’t know.”
G: “It’s all right. That’s in every contract. That’s what they call a sanity clause.”
C: “Ha ha ha! You can’t fool me. There ain’t no Sanity Clause!”

Groucho: “Do they allow tipping on the boat?”
Steward: “Yes, sir.”
G: “Have you got two fives?”
S: “Yes, sir!!”
G: “Well, then you won’t need the ten cents I was gonna give you.”

A Day at the Races:

Stuffy Man: “Why, I’ve never been so insulted in my life!”
Groucho [looking at his watch] “Well, it’s early yet.”

“Hey, don’t drink that poison! That’s $4.00 an ounce!”

At the Circus:

Pauline: “I’ve waited so long to find someone like you.”
Groucho: “Oh, someone like me? I’m not good enough for you, eh?”

The Big Store:

Margaret Dumont: “… I’m afraid after we’re married a while, a beautiful young girl will come along, and you’ll forget all about me.”
Groucho: “Don’t be silly. I’ll write you twice a week.”

Editorial cartoon: Sue City

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The dead have more rights than women

by guest blogger Yvette d’Entremont (a/k/a “Science Babe“)

The buffer zone around funerals is three hundred feet, in a court battle that limited free speech of religious zealots.

The buffer zone of 35 feet around Planned Parenthood clinics was declared unconstitutional because of freedom of speech for religious zealots.

The takeaway from this is that dead bodies get more respect in the courts than women.   7171972292_02616f58e7_k

The decisions for these restrictions should be compared because, if these were just about where we are allowed to practice free speech, shouldn’t these buffer zones be the same? One would hope so. However, the behaviors of the two groups in question are entirely different.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides low cost OB/GYN care to women. This includes annual physicals, breast exams, and birth control. They do counsel women that abstinence is a way to avoid STDs and pregnancy, and they also counsel them on how to maintain your health in sexual relationships.  The organization fills a necessary role in the health care system.

About one percent of their services are for abortion. The other ninety-nine percent of women who go into their clinic are harassed by protesters for getting a breast exam.

Planned Parenthood protesters, allegedly aiming to protect life at all cost, have murdered in the name of their cause. These buffer zones were introduced after women were attacked not to limit the group’s speech, but to keep women and doctors from being killed.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote about the decision, “At each of the three Planned Parenthood clinics where petitioners attempt to counsel patients, the zones carve out a significant portion of the adjacent public sidewalks, pushing petitioners well back from the clinics’ entrances and driveways.”

How quickly Justice Roberts has forgotten the original intent of the laws, not to stop women from hearing a difference of opinion, but to stop them from being subject to harassment and violence that has come along with a lack of protection at these clinics. Given the current environment in which our senses have grown numb  with the news of weekly shootings, would we even bat an eyelash if a shooting happened at a Planned Parenthood?

Would Justice Roberts still want to protect free speech and give groups right to “counsel?”

Conversely, Westboro Baptist is guilty of spewing extraordinarily hateful and unpopular opinions, but they have never threatened or harmed somebody.  Given that the buffer zone has been declared unconstitutional at Planned Parenthood, a non-violent protest group has now legally been given an infinitely bigger buffer zone than the violent one.

Why are we giving a group that has a history of violent protest unfettered access to women who are trying to see a doctor?

As a woman who has been harassed en route into an annual doctor’s appointment because my doctor held some of her office hours at a Planned Parenthood, I thoroughly enjoy that my cozy OB/GYN’s office in Orange County comes with a koi pond and wifi. It’s a world removed from that cloudy day when protesters screamed at me in Boston.  Every woman should have that right to feel safe when walking to a doctor’s office.

And under law, shouldn’t there at least be as much protection granted to women as to a dead body?

Yvette d’Entremont is a forensic chemist and writer living in Southern California. She enjoys running, baking cupcakes with bacon in them, and cuddling her cat, Lexi (but really, she’s a dog person). She’s currently working on a crime novel in her free time and you can follow her antics on twitter @yvetteguinevere and on her Science Babe website.

Editorial cartoon: The real scandal