[ETWolverine]

I think that social issues should be decided by a statewide referendum. It is not right for elitist, unnelected judges to force their often radical views on an entire state.

Thank G-d... another Federalist.

[kp2171]

Thank G-d... another Federalist.

holy crap... I completely agree.

I choose to live in this state. If the judges, the politico's, and/or the people do not represent my values... well, I can get the hell out of dodge.

nobody promised that living your values would be convenient, no matter what side of the fence you live on.

[tomder55]

Kp you just summed up the necessity of mobilty being central to the Federalist concept very well . Elliot in an earlier posting detailed the freedom of financial mobility Americans have .

But on a social level the most often argument made in favor of Federalism has been that a state can experiment and put into practice various ideas in order to find the best and most effective strategy before implementing that idea at the National level. Even more important ,Federalism allows the citizen to move from state to state to avoid or to find state and local governmental ,culture and society that best suit each individual.

[excon]

Even more important ,Federalism allows the citizen to move from state to state to avoid or to find state and local governmental ,culture and society that best suit each individual.

Hello again,

There are certain Constitutional rights that ALL citizens enjoy no matter where they live. That's what the Fourteenth Amendment says.

States are free to be as different from each other as they wish, as long as those differences don't infringe upon the Constitutional rights of its citizens. For example, a state couldn't tell its citizens that they were precluded from owning guns, even if it wanted to attract an anti-gun population. Or, it couldn't enact segregation, in order to attract a white supremacy type population.

As long as "marriage" comes with civil rights, ALL citizens are eligible to share in those rights. I refer again to the Fourteenth Amendment. No matter what you think about homosexuality, I truly don't understand how any American, cognizant of the freedoms this country is founded upon, would attempt to deny RIGHTS to people, that they themselves enjoy. I truly do not understand it. I don't spose I ever will.

excon

[excon]

Hello again:

Before I go, did you stop arguing with me, because I've convinced you? Or did you stop because we've said it all?

I'm just trying to keep score here.

excon