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"Since 2003, this for-profit firm based in Orange County--home to busted subprime behemoths such as Ameriquest--has issued $220 million worth of mortgages in the Golden State's subprime killing fields. More than 90 percent of its home loans have gone to first-time buyers, about half of whom are minorities. Out of 770 single-family loans it has made, how many foreclosures have there been? "As far as we know," says Bystry, "seven.""
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"The analogy between the racism that voters overcame to elect Obama and the anti-gay sentiment that undermined support for same-sex marriage is tempting. But it has led gay marriage proponents to neglect the obvious: Same-sex marriage directly involves sex, and so popular attitudes about sex and gender--not race--are the ones that are most relevant to whether same-sex marriage bans rise or fall."
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"This is why NORAD doesn't let foreigners with satellite-broadcasting equipment just wander in to their central command. You shout something, some botanist translates it for them, and the next thing you know your military secrets are being broadcast to the entire world by some hack reporter who acts like you'd just sat down with him for an interview."
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""After carefully considering the relevance of the 10 inviolable rights that comprise the ideological foundation on which our nation is built, the court finds that these basic freedoms remain important for the time being, and should not be overturned," read the majority opinion authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy"
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Is it breathing?
More like this
The New Jersey Supreme Court just came down with a ruling in a gay marriage case that is similar to what Vermont did a few years ago.
At least to me, this poll in the Baltimore Sun looks like a no-brainer. Which would imply that 59% of the people in Maryland have no brains. Think of the zombies, and do something to correct this problem!
Recognizing same-sex marriage
This morning, the California Supreme Court will announce its decision on whether or not a slim 50% majority can amend the state constitution in order to specifically deny a previously-recognized constitutional right.
"Stanley Kurtz is the 'EverReady Bunny' of the same-sex marriage debate, a character who moves forward unrelentingly on a quest to prove that same-sex marriages are harmful. He is sure that state recognition of lesbian and gay unions in Europe has harmed the institution of marriage.
That top article about sub-prime lending is a must read.
I read the legal-ad section of the classifieds every day (my granddad referred to them as the "funny pages") just to watch for rezonings and such. Lately that includes bank auction monitoring, although that does not include "short sales" that one sees on a Realtor sign. There are few single-family homes listed. There have been several student housing developments listed, loans to the "rich white guys" mentioned in that article.
One of these bankrupt operations is just 2 blocks from the university, closer to classes than some dorms. It takes quite a business plan to lose money that way.
But it has led gay marriage proponents to neglect the obvious: Same-sex marriage directly involves sex, and so popular attitudes about sex and gender--not race--are the ones that are most relevant to whether same-sex marriage bans rise or fall."
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Laws regarding interracial marriage were very much about sex and gender roles played in the context of race. When overturning such laws we focused on the latter and ignored the former. Same-sex marriage is a continuation of the civil rights movement, which has always challenged societal norms that can make those in the dominant group uncomfortable.
Still want to know how the state of California defines a "man" and a "woman". Biology is rarely as simple as our society usually wishes it to be.
Still want to know how the state of California defines a "man" and a "woman". Biology is rarely as simple as our society usually wishes it to be.
Let me try again.
Still want to know how the state of California defines a "man" and a "woman". Biology is rarely as simple as our society usually wishes it to be.
I suspect that the State Government of CA would rather Prop 8 had failed, certainly that is the opinion of the governor and the state assembly, and probably that of the Attorney General.
The people of California, at least 52% of them, however want marriage to be what they think it has always been, ie., what marriage was ~20 years ago.