bad metaphor

I’ve been more or less in a deep freeze for the past two months. Has it been this cold for this long in recent winters? Maybe it’s because I’m now living in a house without central heat (!), but I’m feeling it more this year, and am loathe to do anything but huddle beneath the blankets, cuddle with the cats and the space heaters, and mash the F5 button on my laptop for the latest election results/news. I keep telling myself I’ll go on bike rides and work out and chop some wood, just as soon as the temperature rises back to a respectable above-freezing. Someday.

Speaking of coldness, I found out yesterday that my state legislators are attempting to get rid of my city’s domestic registry. For those of you who don’t know what a domestic registry is, it is basically a policy that lets same-sex couples go down to the town hall, pay seventy-five bucks, write their names on a list, and maybe get a shiny certificate with stars on it or something. There are no rights, privileges, or anything remotely resembling marriage involved (except that you can’t have more than one domestic partner, and you can’t domestically partner with your cousin or siblings. In a way, it’s probably more restrictive to sexuality than not registering). Since it’s a Lawrence-specific registry, only people in Lawrence can participate, and no one outside of Lawrence is obligated to recognize the registry. So why, then, is there a concerted effort on the part of lawmakers like Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, to outlaw this policy?

The simple, logical, and in fact only answer is this: they’re dickheads.

For serious. There is no reason, none whatsoever, to pursue this piece of legislation, that is not grounded in utter dickheadedness. You believe marriage is between a man and a woman? Fine, but that’s another argument altogether, since this isn’t even marriage we’re talking about here. Lawrence’s domestic registry is the most ineffectual symbolic gesture that a liberal city, surrounded by the Phelpses and likeminded, could give to its LGBT inhabitants. At the time it was passed, many of us thought that the city could go even further. Like maybe handing out a gift basket with the registration, or a free coupon for Perkins. Anything to make it worth the trouble.

But evidently in other parts of Kansas, enough straight couples are laying awake at night, their marriages in mortal danger of crumbling to pieces, because some wicked gays in Lawrence signed a piece of paper. Let’s be sure to thank Rep. Kinzer, and his colleagues Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora, and Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie, for standing up for these good-hearted folk. Amidst economic fears, insurance crises and public school financing issues, I am happy that these noble legislators are focusing on what is truly important.

Today is Super Tuesday! Make your voice heard in our democracy by participating in the Kansas caucuses.

DEMOCRATS:
Our caucus is tomorrow, yippee, we matter for once!

Not registered as a Democrat? Not registered at all? Don’t worry about it, you can register at the door! If this is the case for you, please show up early to get the paperwork filled out.

Information about the caucus process for the Democrats can be found here: http://www.ksdp.org/supertuesday

Most importantly, you may look up your caucus location here:
http://www.ksdp.org/CaucusFinder

Doors open at 6:00. Make sure to be there before 7:00; if you are in line by that time you will be allowed inside.

***PLEASE NOTE, LAWRENCIANS: If you looked up your site previously and it was Liberty Hall, that has been changed. It is now at Douglas County Fairgrounds.***

REPUBLICANS:

I have to say, for being the ruling party in Kansas, your website sucks. I had to dig around for awhile to find the relevant caucus information. I think you can just show up to any of the caucus locations and vote, but don’t quote me on that.

The Republican primary is at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb 9th. You have to be registered Republican to participate, and you must bring state issued ID to prove voter registration.

Caucus information is here: http://www.ksgopcaucus.org/summary_caucus.htm
Caucus locations here: http://www.ksgopcaucus.org/locations.htm

EVERYBODY:

Get out there and rock the vote!

My friend J, an economics major and also a fervent Obama-maniac, just posted this on his Facebook. He is submitting it to a newspaper, but had to chop it up significantly to pass the 200 word limit. Thought I’d pass it along in it’s original version:

Listening to the sound bites and reading the one-liners from the Democratic campaign, it seems there is much to lament about our economy, but no plan that can meet the challenge. From the sub-prime mortgage crisis to seven years of stagnant wages for most Americans, the woes are great.

The fact is: there are solutions that the media is not covering. Both candidates offer specific plans that, so far, receive little attention. Barack Obama’s Blueprint for Change and Hillary Clinton’s issue papers address economic conditions, and one of those plans is better for Kansans and the country.

First, Obama’s plan addresses a behavior known to economists as “rent-seeking.” Obama’s plan stops the lobbyist influence over regulating authorities, influence that thwarts competition and enriches the few at taxpayers’ expense. Clinton embraces these special interests in her campaign. (See this NYT article for Frmr. Pres. Clinton’s entanglements)

Second, Obama better understands the role of infrastructure, and his plan contains unique provisions to advance the technical systems underlying the new economy. Obama calls for research on energy efficiency in industry and transport. Advances like these benefit everyone in the economy. They are, as economists say, “public goods” that Clinton’s plan overlooks.

Third, Obama’s plan makes the connection between individual finance and the national economy. It calls for a five-star credit card rating system that forewarns of the risks hidden in the fine print. It supports collective bargaining and growing wages for workers in ways that prevent bankruptcies from happening in the first place. Our economy is made up of real people whose voices and concerns matter, even if the Clinton plan suggests it is just the banking sector that needs help, and even if Sen. Clinton’s former colleagues from board of Wal-mart won’t acknowledge it.

The Clinton campaign portrays Obama’s promise of change as hollow. Indeed, in the media, talk—especially Obama’s beautiful, moving prose—garners more attention than action, but this is one case in which beauty is not just skin deep. When it comes to our economy, it is Obama’s Blueprint for Change that offers the action America needs.