It’s nice to see that our Legislators are serious about addressing the problems facing the state.
Apparently, Sen. Dennis Damon of Hancock County is planning to submit a bill to define marriage as a union between two people, and House Minority Leader Josh Tardy is responding by threatening to push for a constitutional amendment outlawing the practice.
We recognize that same sex marriage is a matter near and dear to the hearts of people on both sides of the issue, but we can’t help but think our Legislators can find better things to do with their time
Considering that we are looking at an $800 million budget deficit, cutbacks in state support and services across the board, the state and national economies crashing like the Hindenburg, and ill-conceived school consolidation plans that will revamp education in Maine for generations to come, you would think that might be enough to worry about for state officials.
In theory, we hold the conservative principle that government has no right to legislate the private behavior of its citizens, but we recognize that battle has been lost long ago since we have now regulated smoking in our cars and taken the personal decision to protect one’s own life by wearing seatbelt out of the individual’s hands.
While the definition of marriage is a hot button social issue, it has little to do with the real world problems currently facing the state, and even if the state absolutely, positively, can’t resist getting involved, at least one would think it could, or should, wait until times are a little easier and we have the luxury of picking our crises.
