Re: Again, I'm confused -- would one of you rightwing assholes help me out here?

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:36:44 -0400, "Joe S." <anon@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

In the area of economics, all we hear from the rightwing is "private
sector." Let the "private sector" do it -- the "private sector" will do it
more effectively and efficiently than the guvmint -- if the "private sector"
does it, it's perfect, if the guvmint does it, it's fucked up. That's all I
hear from the rightwingers, the Bushitters, and the Republicans --"private
sector" "private sector" "private sector" "private sector" .

It's BS. They'd never let a private sector company with a
record of financial responsibility and accountability run, say,
military procurement, etc.


BUT WAIT!!!

The "private sector" has decided that same-gender partnerships are just
fine. Over half of the Fortune 500 companies provide benefits to
same-gender partners that are equal to those for traditional heterosexual
partners.

So -- the "private sector" is okay with same-gender relationships -- why are
the rightwingers and Republicans so opposed to same-gender relationships?

I don't think Bush is. Everything that's important to him
pretty much ends up getting passed by the Republicans, and in some
cases a majority of Democrats in the Senate. He didn't push for the
same gender marriage ban because if he had, and had gotten it, the
next Republican candidate wouldn't have it to bitch about when the
next election rolls around. It's a game. Personally, I'm against gay
marriage, but I don't believe Bush really is. Actually, it's not even
gay marriage I'm much against, it's more the BS masked as "tolerance
training", etc. THAT, I'm against.

After all, if the "private sector" does it, we all should do it.

QUOTE

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Thanks to private sector employers, our nation hit a
milestone this year in its march toward equality.

While protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans are
stalled in Congress, corporate America continues to surge ahead. This isn't
a Democratic or a Republican issue. It's an issue of basic fairness and good
business.

For the first time, more than half of all Fortune 500 companies offer
domestic partner health insurance benefits to their employees, according to
the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual "State of the Workplace"
report. This survey also found that 86 percent of Fortune 500 companies
include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies and 10 times
the number of Fortune companies cover gender identity today compared to
2001.

The private sector continues to be far ahead of the political debate. While
elected officials continue to dwell on the "politics" of equal protections
and rights, business leaders are encouraging fairness for their employees.

Just 25 years ago, these workplace policies didn't exist or were so rare
that even the most progressive employer would not offer them. But more and
more, Americans are accepting the fact that gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people are not just a statistic -- we are members of your
family, your friends, your neighbors and your co-workers.

The 2000 Census found that same-sex couples live in more than 99 percent of
counties in the United States, meaning just about every workplace has an
employee -- or prospective employee -- who could benefit from domestic
partner coverage.

Even our nation's most prestigious educational institutions are on board
with providing equal rights for domestic partners. Among America's colleges
and universities, 92 percent of the 25 top national four-year colleges
provide domestic partner health coverage, according to our survey.

America's workplaces and schools are a microcosm of the country. They are
places where people from different walks of life -- all religions, races,
income levels, sexual orientations and gender identities -- are thrown
together and told to make it work. They're doing just that and these
policies and benefits are helping employers and employees succeed.

We have also seen wins in anti-discrimination and benefits policies at the
state and local levels. Our survey found that seven states prohibit
discrimination in private sector employment on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity -- California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota,
New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington, plus the District of Columbia. Ten
additional states ban workplace discrimination based exclusively on sexual
orientation.

Unfortunately, many political leaders are far behind business leaders in
promoting and implementing fair and equitable policies for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender Americans. Sadly, we see some politicians attacking
our families and exploiting anti-gay prejudice for political purposes --
which results in fueling that prejudice and dividing our country.

In early June, GLBT families were targets of the Federal Marriage Amendment,
an attempt to write discrimination into our nation's Constitution. These
elected officials have turned their backs on the principles upon which this
country was founded.

But America is a "can do" nation and has come a long way in its embracement
of fair and equal treatment for GLBT families. And it has happened not
because of some radical gay agenda, which our opponents say is our secret
plan to take over. It has happened because of a measured approach of
bringing people together on the basis of our common values and goals.

But I would be lying if I said that we don't have an agenda -- we do, and
this is it:

1. A good job, where workers are respected for the work they do, are treated
fairly and offered equal benefits

2. A safe home. So that we and our families can live in a community without
fear of hate crimes and persecution

3. Fair and quality health care so that we have the ability to take care of
our loved ones

4. And the right to be in a committed and legally recognized relationship
that includes the same legal protections and rights offered to every other
American -- no more, and no less.

And that, my friends, is not a radical gay agenda -- it's the American
dream.

As an American I am proud of the gains being made in our country by the
private sector, educational institutions, state and local government.
History will mark these years as the time when our nation's business leaders
decided to live up to America's promise -- and allow for real liberty and
justice for all.

END QUOTE

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/30/solmonese.gayrights/index.html


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