Somehow this became a full-fledged political hot button this election year, and I have to wonder what all the bullshit about it is. Personally, if you set all of the religious issues aside, and they should be set aside, since this is a government issue, this is a very simple thing to figure out.

How can such a simple thing be such a huge production in the political arena? Simple: the media has sensationalized it out of proportion and we are seeing the fallout from that. How can I say that? I just did, that’s how. I’m of the opinion that the majority of the US couldn’t give a shit about same sex marriages because they aren’t gay. If you’re gay, this is a huge issue. If you’re not gay, do you really care, one way or the other? You shouldn’t care… you shouldn’t be opposed to it, at least, because it won’t impact your day to day life.

Most of the people that are up in arms about this are citing religious reasons to be against it. That’s fine for you and your religious believes but what’s that got to do with the government, neh? Check the Constitution: if it’s not in there – if it’s not specifically spelling out that marriage has to be between a man and a woman – then you’ve got no recourse at the Federal level. Beyond that, it’s a state-by-state issue, so have a ball defending your state and keep your comments out of how the other state’s are behaving. Just like I said, it’s pretty simple.

Of course, then you’ve got Bush fuckin’ up the works now, by trying to bring a Federal level ban against it. I’d love to know where that’s coming from, because I’d like to give that advisor an atomic wedgie. Is this something Bush believes in? Sure, because of his religious beliefs, but he would not make national policy based on that – at least he usually doesn’t. It usually takes support from some other group for him to go public with such things… Someone pushed him out of line to promote this; I just don’t see the point.

The only viable reason to prevent same sex marriages would be that of taxes. Really. It all comes down to that extra deduction that is biased to married people, screwing single citizens into a higher tax bracket. Right now, if I pick up a woman off the street and got married to her, just for tax purposes, there’s nothing the government can say to stop me. Am I required to live with her? Doubtful. Am I required to produce an offspring from this union? Hell no – it’s my right to not have kids, if I choose not to. Would I be required to consummate the marriage? No – they can’t make me do that either. Basically, once you submit the paperwork, you’re hitched until there’s a divorce or death, and during that time, you get a tax break. So unless the government wants to start “checking up” on all marriages – like they do for green card applicants – then they can’t say dick about that either.

All this hoopla for what basically boils down to nothing but a possible tax break. What’s even better is how the politians are reacting to it. Kerry is all over it, proclaiming that he’s for same sex marriages. The first thing that comes to mind is this: is he really for it, or is he for it because Bush isn’t for it? Ask yourself that. Beyond that, if you want my vote, Mr. Kerry, what are you going to do for me? As I said earlier, this has got no impact on my life and – since homosexuals constantly proclaim themselves as minorities – you aren’t going to win many votes on this one topic. Tell me how you’re going to make the average citizen happier, and we can talk about you getting my vote.

And my advice to President Bush is just as simple, too: Shaddap already! You’re digging yourself a deeper hole over what should be a minor issue. If you’re going to dig a hole for yourself, pick a topic that has more impact on the mass populous. Right now you’re being played and it’s a long way until November…

Maybe it’s easier to just run for office and get it over with.