People are so amazed about the speed of the gay marriage issue. You know what I think?

[Bonobo]

And it's the same as the legalized marijuana movement...

What I think is that Americans are way, way more liberal than the politicians pretend that they are.

DC is either ignorantly way behind the position of America or they are consciously ignoring what they know, playing the ignorant game.

No, what I think is that if the gates were opened as Bernie threatens to do, then we would see a massive sea change in politics.

The message is controlled by the media and by the paid-for politicians, but lurking beneath it all is a real fucking strong streak of liberalism.

By ALWAYS waiting for the people to lead, never adopting a controversial position until it is literally thrust upon her, Hillary is holding back the movement, not moving it forward.

[arcane1]

1. Thank you!!!! I agree 100%: it's the slogans and buzz-words that convince people they aren't liberal

And the "traditional" media is becoming less and less relevant

[roguevalley]

10. i agree. I also think that the world is in a philosophical and spiritual shift

right now. I think that is why this is happening and people in the opposition look so bad.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Sure, there have been scientific studies to point that out.

Basically, every politician is more 'conservative' in office than their district or state is. There might be a few oddball exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, none of them get as liberal as the people they represent when they're in office, no matter which party they're in.

[TDale313]

3. I remember a study a while back...

That showed members of congress- both Republican and Democrats- thought their districts were significantly more conservative than they actually were. To the point- iirc- that a large percentage of Republican reps thought their districts were more conservative than the most conservative districts in the country. Media is a large part of it. Who actually has access is another. But I think you're spot on- the country is much further to the left than tptb know or will acknowledge.

[Juicy_Bellows]

4. Absolutely! Kick!

I really hope we can move the mountains this time. Last time a lot of us were duped.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. For what's it worth equality for all is an ideal I would literally die to protect.

I couldn't give a rat's ass if someone wants to get high.

[Mnpaul]

6. I liked the way it happened in Mn

The Republicans attempted to ban gay marriage in the constitution via voter referendum. It bacfired, it failed taking the Republicans along with it. The Democrats who replaced them turned around and made it legal.

[dsc]

7. We made some great in roads on public opinion

but the fact is, if Kennedy weren't unusually pro gay given his other beliefs, we wouldn't have won that case and there would be no marriage equality in any Southern state and not many Midwestern ones.

[hollysmom]

8. now all you have to do is get the people to vote!

what the heck is wrong here?

[JI7]

9. the courts played a bigger role in it , if it was up to the people themselves it wouldn't have moved

as fast. and there would be parts of the country that wouldn't have this right.

[davidpdx]

11. I think it's very possible in a decade from now at least half the states will legalize marijuana

[Bonobo]

12. The only reason I kick myself over being in Japan, David...

When I left, I wouldn't have imagined in a million years!

[davidpdx]

13. I was talking to someone else I know in Japan on Facebook

asking if people in Japan get drug tested by employers. He said something like "no, they don't put us through that indignity". I wouldn't mind trying a pot brownie, but they do drug test here in Korea so that would be a very bad idea for me.

All you have to do is take a flight to Seattle though to get some bud though since it's legal in Washington.

[Bonobo]

14. I know an American who got tested.

But he was working for an American company in Japan. LOL. Fuckers. He had gone back to the states, smoked some weed and they tested him when he came back.

[davidpdx]

16. Yep, and even worse I work for a university

I'd be dropped faster than you could blink an eye. Waegooks are not treated as well here as they are in Japan.

[Bonobo]

17. What's a waegook? nt

[davidpdx]

19. foreigner

[Sheepshank]

15. Marriage for all was a long evolution stymied at every turn by religion

Once the nation became informed...once religion became less of a national influence (in big part thanks to the www), populations became more aware not only of the issues, but the reality of the plight of their fellow human beings. People became more aware of the overt bigotry, hate and unfairness lobbed at their fellow humans. The population evolved and politicians (at least those willing to also evolve) were required to not only vote their own conscience but also bend to the will of their constituency. It wasn't sudden, it was a very long hard road that certainly picked up speed because of those brave souls stepping forward and letting themselves be the Lightning rod as the issue hit the courts.

Your op seems to imply that all politicians should be just like their most extreme constituency in the immediate, because anything less is 3rd way, and those politicians should force laws asap and always to assuage that group.

Your narrative Disallows for human foibles and disallows for the idea that as a whole the nation does evolve on social issues and politicians are always playing catchup on that moving goal post. Thank god that there are those politicians willing to see and act on a groundswell. It's amazing how many see this as a problem. How many DUers attempt to portray politicians evolving as a bad thing is quite fascinating. I am actually heartened by the idea that elected officials learn grow and evolve. We have no idea how a constituency will feel about a certain social topic 15-30 years from now. I look for a politician that can accept and embrace change. We are still talking about marriage and marijuana...right?

[Sunlei]

18. The courts always seem slow to me, except right before a vacation

http://www.supremecourt.gov/default.aspx