Search results

CORRECTION: My error. Virginia's constitution contains a provision against same-sex marriage. The prohibition on interracial marriage was only statutory. It appears the law has been repealed (it no longer exists in the Code of Virginia. So the Thomases remain married and won't go to jail if...

Can't, in Virginia. As I said, Virginia forbids "miscegenation" in its constitution. That provision has never been removed, just rendered ineffective by Loving v. Virginia. If Loving is overturned, that constitutional provision is instantly restored. The Lovings, both residents of Virginia...

Depends on the state and how the laws are worded. Some of 'em get criminally prosecuted.

Yep. If you go back in time, Obergefell v. Hodges is the first one you hit. After that, you got Lawrence v. Texas (anti-sodomy laws), Eisenstadt v. Baird (contraception), Loving v. Virginia (interracial marriage), Griswold v. Connecticut (contraception for married couples), and eventually work...

I suppose these horror stories make for good (bad) press, but never take your eye off the prize. . . the fundamental right of personal autonomy.

So, basically. . . y'all have Texans.

Yeah, that's what the Big Apple calls a "goodwill ambassador." You gotta problem wid dat?

Love that hard-done-by sense of grievance! If I recollect right, Germany called it Star Wars, not Sternenkriege. But again, the question is "How does this actually hurt you?" And "To what extent is playing the Acadian rebel a harmless outlet, vastly preferable to terrorism, and to what extent...

"Expeditiously" won't be fast enough for this crisis, but I hope Europe has learned from the Ukraine war. When you consider that close to 90% of the world's proven petroleum reserves are in the hands of less-than-democratic countries with a certain tendency to make war, you need to diversify...

Well said, BUT. . . Medium-to-long term planning is also an essential function of government, particularly as frontiers are pretty much closed. Medium is stuff like maintaining a military, even when you're not at war. The problem with long is that changed circumstances intervene, so ya gotta...

If it's any contribution, we've actually done quite well with "no official language." We produce paper in English, and local jurisdictions, or local offices of state/Federal agencies, have broad latitude to pick which other language(s) they'll provide service in. I've heard Mandarin is...

Sadly, their metaphor was damaged beyond recovery.

Oh, good! I'm sure he'll immediately see the error of his ways and spend his remaining days atoning for the pain he has caused. I mean, obviously, right? Being such a good man and all.

It's Kentucky, Jake.

Interesting. As I said, I found one person who did not speak English. But my visit was 20-25 years after yours. I would suggest the ubiquity of the internet, and the fact that it is primarily in English, may have had an effect.

Yeah, I spent much more time in Quebec City than in Montreal. And that's where I stumbled on the truth. . . your average Kay-becker couldn't give two shits about "separatism," except as a grounds for bitching over a beer. (The woman I spoke of earlier was on that island in the St. Lawrence...

Yep, got experience with that last part. Some of what they want, a "return" to the "good ol' days," just ain't. . . gonna. . . happen. But it would be wise to separate out the real, addressable sources of discontent.

Hmm. . . as to the first, I met ONE person while travelling in Quebec who didn't speak English well. And she was north of 70 anyhow. So that's a problem that will solve itself. As to the second, I agree that SOME of the West's concerns are valid, and Ottawa better start paying attention. At...

See my brand-spanking-new thread "English Canada/French Canada" in the "Canadian Politics" forum. Is that all this "Westernesse" shit is? Just bored people playing toy soldier because they're sure it won't have real consequences?

I'm reading a book by a Canadian author (who knew there were Canadian authors?), obviously pretty TO liberal, who says (as one of his characters). . . "Leave and go where? You can't move Quebec, you know. Separatism is dead -- it's like being a Leafs fan: It's something you do for fun, not...