sophiaserpentia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sophiaserpentia) wrote2006-11-08 10:35 am
sophiaserpentia) wrote2006-11-08 10:35 am
Entry tags:
my pinko-anarcha-feminist thoughts
At the moment the Democratic candidates have leads in the two remaining contested Senate races -- Virginia and Montana. If this holds, then the Democrats have won control of both houses of Congress. But the margins are razor thin and recounts are certain.
I have mixed feelings about the election results.
A part of my mind still cheers at the sight of many blue states, and the thought of Bush as a lame-duck with no political capital is a happy one. I'm heartened that perhaps people around the world will look at the election results and think slightly less ugly thoughts about Americans.
But the votes on various referenda indicate that the country has not turned liberal overnight. Virginia, in particular, has added a particularly odious amendment to its constitution which not only bans gay marriage and gay civil unions but bars even private contracts between individuals to approximate some of the rights of marriage. Previously in American history only slaves (and children, and maybe Indians) have been restricted on the types of contracts they can enter into. Virginia has given the world a brand new type of Apartheid. Way to go, intrepid heterosexuals of Virginia! That sucking sound you will soon hear is the exodus of large corporations with non-discrimination policies packing up and moving to Maryland, DC, and North Carolina, along with their queer employees.
Also, i want to see what the Democrats are actually going to do. Will they reverse the Approval of Torture and Revocation of Habeas Corpus Act of 2006? Will they do anything about Bush's program of illegal warrantless wiretapping? Will they investigate Halliburton's corrupt war profiteering? Will they really let the wall be built on the border with Mexico? I am holding off on my excitement about the election results until i see some real action on these things.
I'm happy to see that the abortion ban did not pass in South Dakota. I'm somewhat heartened that the people of Arizona voted against homophobic bigotry, though i maintain that it is unethical for a society to vote on the civil rights of a minority. I'm disappointed by Michigan's rejection of affirmative action.
ETA: When i read that President Bush invited Nancy Pelosi and second-ranked house Democrat Steny Hoyer to lunch at the White House, my first thought was, "Don't go! It's a trap!"
I have mixed feelings about the election results.
A part of my mind still cheers at the sight of many blue states, and the thought of Bush as a lame-duck with no political capital is a happy one. I'm heartened that perhaps people around the world will look at the election results and think slightly less ugly thoughts about Americans.
But the votes on various referenda indicate that the country has not turned liberal overnight. Virginia, in particular, has added a particularly odious amendment to its constitution which not only bans gay marriage and gay civil unions but bars even private contracts between individuals to approximate some of the rights of marriage. Previously in American history only slaves (and children, and maybe Indians) have been restricted on the types of contracts they can enter into. Virginia has given the world a brand new type of Apartheid. Way to go, intrepid heterosexuals of Virginia! That sucking sound you will soon hear is the exodus of large corporations with non-discrimination policies packing up and moving to Maryland, DC, and North Carolina, along with their queer employees.
Also, i want to see what the Democrats are actually going to do. Will they reverse the Approval of Torture and Revocation of Habeas Corpus Act of 2006? Will they do anything about Bush's program of illegal warrantless wiretapping? Will they investigate Halliburton's corrupt war profiteering? Will they really let the wall be built on the border with Mexico? I am holding off on my excitement about the election results until i see some real action on these things.
I'm happy to see that the abortion ban did not pass in South Dakota. I'm somewhat heartened that the people of Arizona voted against homophobic bigotry, though i maintain that it is unethical for a society to vote on the civil rights of a minority. I'm disappointed by Michigan's rejection of affirmative action.
ETA: When i read that President Bush invited Nancy Pelosi and second-ranked house Democrat Steny Hoyer to lunch at the White House, my first thought was, "Don't go! It's a trap!"