Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 05:33PM Here is a hilarious take by comedian Jackie Mason on the whole Obama-67 Borders issue. It is hysterically funny because much of what Mason says is so true. Sidesplitting stuff. Really gives you a clear perspective on events in the Middle East.
Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 05:19PM 
Gay Marriage
In addition to stumping across the length and breadth of the state on behalf of a property tax cap (see our editorial from last issue, available online) Governor Andrew Cuomo is also in full advocacy mode for a bill to legalize same-sex marriages in New York. On what Cuomo calls his “People First Tour,” the Governor has been speaking out forcefully in favor of what some call “Gay marriage.”
Cuomo’s argument is one based on what he calls civil rights issues, asserting that “This is a matter of fairness and equality”, and that there are “1000 federal and 700 state rights that are denied same-sex couples” and “It is not a question of religion or culture but a question of legal rights and government policy.” In a 90-second video released this week, the Governor states that “the lack of marriage equality is a blight on New York’s progressive reputation as an incubator for the women’s suffrage and civil rights movements” and that New York has always been a trailblazer on these kinds of issues.
Recent opinion polls suggest a slim majority of public opinion in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. In 2009 a similar bill went down to defeat in the State Senate 24-38 with some Democrats crossing the isle to vote against it. The current legislative session ends on June 20th and so far not one Republican senator has come out in favor of this bill.
This issue has proven extremely divisive not only in New York but across the country for many reasons, some of which do go to issues of religion or morality. The one question not asked in this debate is “why is the government in the marriage business at all?” Marriage and other intimate relationships are very much at the core of one’s personal life, which we feel ought not be anyone’s business. Why is the government determining the status of marriage of any kind and why do married people receive preferences in “1,000 federal and 700 state” rights and in their tax status?
Government should not be in people’s bedrooms. The best way to handle the issue is to get government out of the marriage business entirely. Let couples be joined either religiously or with any kind of ceremony they want (or not) and/or with legal contracts stating their mutual and reciprocal responsibilities without the government being the certifier or arbiter of peoples’ status as a couple. To make this entirely fair, there ought to be no discriminatory laws or preferences for singles or couples, particularly in taxation. Folks should be able to designate (especially for medical emergencies and the like) who their significant other is, likewise for inheritance issues. Tax deductions for dependents (particularly children) should not be contingent on marital status, but on dependent status which makes things fair for single parents.
Because we have separation of Church and State, as enshrined in the Constitution, the logical resolution to this issue is for government to shutter the marriage bureaus entirely and leave these things to peoples’ consciences and preferences. The other thing here about government-registered same-sex marriage is it opens the door for any and every other kind of marriage, multiple husbands and wives, marriages to pets, whatever. If the government gets out of this business then government won't have to deal with what may become a circus-like atmosphere of a million variants on the theme.
Falling Gas Prices
If you’ve been following our Five Towns Gas Tracker feature (and if you’ve been unfortunate enough to have had to fill-up your car repeatedly in the past two weeks) you’ll have noticed that thankfully, gratefully, gas prices have been falling at the pump ever so slightly. It has gotten to the point where $3.99 a gallon will probably be cause for some small measure of celebration.
There are a number of “big lies” in the world, most notably “the check is in the mail,” but another of the great mendacities is “there is a shortage of oil.” Like automatons, every time energy prices skyrocket, TV news anchors solemnly inform us that it is due to some kind of shortage or another or because of some political volatility in some far-off region like Libya. It is truly astonishing how gullible many are to believing that the seemingly instantaneous hikes in gas prices overnight are due to some event 7,000 miles away, as though our gasoline were coming from that very venue overnight via FedEx.
If there were a real shortage in oil, you wouldn’t be able to get it at any price or there would be long lines and gas station closures due to limited supply. Demand for oil in the U.S. for the week ending May 6th was 18.164 million barrels a day, the lowest level in two years and down six percent from just last year. According to columnist Jonathon Trugman, a large reason for oil’s price hikes “is the massive flow of funds (money) into commodities and related leveraged exchange traded funds and mutual funds.” Commodities speculation has also sent prices of gold and silver, coffee, wheat and corn skyrocketing as investors create and then chase self-created bubbles to reap windfall profits on the trades. The oil companies meanwhile are expected to see their earnings increase by 30 to 50 percent in the first half of this year over last year. Who pays for this? Joe and Jane Honda Driver.
Interestingly, we get virtually no oil from Libya. Most of our oil comes from North and South America. What we have been getting at the pump really has been the shaft, making it an expensive winter for everyone with wheels (individuals and businesses) and anyone with oil heat.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 06:40PM Here is an unintentionally funny clip of Gene Simmons of the Heavy Metal Rock band "Kiss" holding forth on Obama, Israel's '67 borders, fighting terrorism and who should run the world. Even though you may not like the way he puts it, you probably agree with him. Gene was born in Israel as Chaim Witz.