Terahertz

Obligatory US election post

So if you go back, the only thing I have mentioned about the US election is to Vote No on Prop 8 in California (so that gay marriage can remain legal).

Obviously I'm happy Obama has beaten McCain/Palin. But let's not assume that the US is suddenly socialist utopia. It's not.

Depending how the results turn in, up to 49% of Americans still voted for McCain/Palin. Granted, many would vote for a Libertarian candidate, if the two big parties hadn't strangleholded democracy years ago and declared a vote for a third party is a wasted vote (they've even convinced the third parties that it is), but that's till a lot of right-wingers.

Let's look at some of the other things being decided today.

Many states are having ballot propositions on gay marriage (including state constitutional amendments) and abortion rights. Here's some preliminary results:

Arizona: Gay Marriage Banned 58-44%
Arkansas: Banned gay people adopting children: 57-43%
California: banned gay marriage: 52-48%,
Florida: Banned Gay Marriage: 62-38%

Every anti-gay measure passed.

On the positive however,
California: no new abortion restrictions for minors: 52-48%
Colorado: Human life does NOT begin at conception: 74-26%
Michigan: Allow medicinal marijuana: 63-37%, allow (embryonic) stem cell research: 52-48%
South Dakota: No more abortion limits: 55-45%
Washington: Allow doctor-assisted suicide: 58-42%

What amazes me is that a majority (50% + 1) vote can enact a discriminatory constitutional amendment. One would think a document as strong as a constitution should require super-majorities to pass (i.e. 2/3s vote), but even more amazing is Florida almost gave that percentage!

I guess if Quebec can decide to secede with a majority referendum then some of these things can pass too.

So liberals and progressives: even though Obama may look like the sign of the end of the Neo/Theo-Cons, there are still lots of people gunning for human rights out there.

Social conservativism is alive and well in the United States.