Alito and Thomas threaten to overturn marriage equality

[Bramblethorn]

https://twitter.com/mjs_DC/status/1313110698201841665

"The Supreme Court turned away Kim Davis' case, but Thomas (joined by Alito) wrote a jaw-dropping rant taking direct aim at Obergefell [the case that established the right to same-sex marriage in the USA] and suggesting that SCOTUS must overturn the right to marriage equality in order to protect free exercise."

 

[yukonnights]

I fear it's just a matter of time now. The GOP has achieved one thing for certain, they've packed the courts with zealots who for some strange reason all seem to cry alligator tears for "freedom" … but taking away rights seem to be their definition of "freedom".

 

[stickygirl]

Political appointees to the legislator. I guess the founding fathers weren't so fucking clever after all

 

[yukonnights]

Political appointees to the legislator. I guess the founding fathers weren't so fucking clever after all

It's a wee bit more convoluted than that. The president nominates a person to the federal court system. That includes both lower courts and the Supreme Court. The popularly/duly elected members of the Senate (the upper chamber, if you will) holds hearings on that nominee and then a vote up or down for that nominee.

The state of politics in the USA at this time is one of hyper-polarization. Hyper partisanship. So when there is no middle ground between the two parties (Republican & Democrat) it is for all practical purposes a situation where a "political appointee" can be fast tracked, in this instance, to the highest court in the system.

The main thing, IMO, for LGBTQ+ people in this country to do is; #1. Vote for those who represent your values and needs. #2. Don't let the Progress that's been made for human rights in the past be erased by people who would like to oppress those who happen to be different from themselves. Progress has won in the past and even if the worst happens in this next few months— Progress can win again through the use of science, the history of and the demands for equal rights of LGBTQ+ humans.

I haven't given up all hope yet that the Supreme Court will refuse to vote for the erosion equal rights for a select slice of American citizens. Only time will tell.

 

[Bramblethorn]

It's a wee bit more convoluted than that. The president nominates a person to the federal court system. That includes both lower courts and the Supreme Court. The popularly/duly elected members of the Senate (the upper chamber, if you will) holds hearings on that nominee and then a vote up or down for that nominee.

[Or they refuse to hold hearings at all...]

A note on "popularly elected": the way the Senate is elected leads to some wildly disproportionate representation. Wyoming (population ~ 579k) gets two senators. California, population 39.5 million (that's about 68 Wyomings)... also gets two senators. D.C. (slightly more population than Wyoming) and PR (about 5.5x Wyoming) get no Senate representation at all.

The result of that disproportionality is that over the last three general elections (picked to cover a full 6-year Senate term), Democrats have picked up about 20% more Senate votes than Republicans, but won 20% fewer seats.

 

[yukonnights]

[Or they refuse to hold hearings at all...]

A note on "popularly elected": the way the Senate is elected leads to some wildly disproportionate representation. Wyoming (population ~ 579k) gets two senators. California, population 39.5 million (that's about 68 Wyomings)... also gets two senators. D.C. (slightly more population than Wyoming) and PR (about 5.5x Wyoming) get no Senate representation at all.

The result of that disproportionality is that over the last three general elections (picked to cover a full 6-year Senate term), Democrats have picked up about 20% more Senate votes than Republicans, but won 20% fewer seats.

You are absolutely right. I was going to go into the archaic Electoral College too, but thought it might be going too far into politics. But the sad truth is; politics are a front and center issue for anyone who supports and desires true equality — and true democracy.

But, with the disproportionate allocation of Senators, as Bramble points out — combined with the fact that an individual's vote does not, in fact, actually count toward a Presidential vote — but instead is just a vote for an unknown "Elector" who serves as a proxy vote … it does make one question the integrity of the system.

To make a bad system worse; Each of the 50 states (and territories) decides it's own rules for determining the guidelines/laws for Electors. These Electors are not necessarily elected officials — often political party officials, etc. In many states, that Elector is not even bound/required to vote in honor/accordance with the vote that put them there — known as unfaithful electors.

So, what a fine mess we're in, eh?

But! The power of the people is not yet snuffed out. I have hope for a continued march of progressive evolution of human society. I'm hoping the next generation will jump into the fray and speak loudly of what kind of country — what kind of world they want to live in.

 

[Escierto]

You are absolutely right. I was going to go into the archaic Electoral College too, but thought it might be going too far into politics. But the sad truth is; politics are a front and center issue for anyone who supports and desires true equality — and true democracy.

But, with the disproportionate allocation of Senators, as Bramble points out — combined with the fact that an individual's vote does not, in fact, actually count toward a Presidential vote — but instead is just a vote for an unknown "Elector" who serves as a proxy vote … it does make one question the integrity of the system.

To make a bad system worse; Each of the 50 states (and territories) decides it's own rules for determining the guidelines/laws for Electors. These Electors are not necessarily elected officials — often political party officials, etc. In many states, that Elector is not even bound/required to vote in honor/accordance with the vote that put them there — known as unfaithful electors.

So, what a fine mess we're in, eh?

But! The power of the people is not yet snuffed out. I have hope for a continued march of progressive evolution of human society. I'm hoping the next generation will jump into the fray and speak loudly of what kind of country — what kind of world they want to live in.

Yes. The Baby Boomers are worthless and I say that as one of them. The young people between 18 and 30 are my hope.

 

[jaF0]

Pope endorses same-sex civil unions in new documentary film

The Denver Post|30 minutes ago

Pope Francis endorsed same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope while being interviewed for the feature-length documentary "Francesco," which premiered Wednesday at the Rome

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/10/21/pope-gay-civil-unions-francesco/