Comments on: You didn’t believe me that Iowa was progressive? http://laurabergus.com/2009/04/you-didnt-believe-me-that-iowa-was-progressive/ Law grad + web & media background = belief that legal services should be affordable, accessible, and online. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:37:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Laura Bergus http://laurabergus.com/2009/04/you-didnt-believe-me-that-iowa-was-progressive/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Laura Bergus Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:34:03 +0000 http://laurabergus.com/?p=154#comment-295 Thanks for the comment. I understand your concern, but sometimes the job of the judiciary is to uphold rights that even a voting majority of average citizens would strike down. That's why they are there - to interpret laws passed by the elected majority and see if they unfairly penalize the minority. And that's what makes this decision progressive - much like early rulings on desegregation and courts that struck down bans on interracial marriage: these things were done at time when the will of the voters may have been to the contrary. I don't think that affirming a right that's inherent in the words of our Federal Constitution infringes on others. Just like other equal protections, I am free to hold whatever views I want and express them as I see fit -- there is no law against being racist or homophobic, only against acting on those beliefs in certain ways. What effects can this decision actually have on the heterosexual public? I don't see the possibility of more openly gay relationships or more gay people in Iowa interfering with any of my or my family's freedoms. Thanks for the comment. I understand your concern, but sometimes the job of the judiciary is to uphold rights that even a voting majority of average citizens would strike down. That’s why they are there – to interpret laws passed by the elected majority and see if they unfairly penalize the minority. And that’s what makes this decision progressive – much like early rulings on desegregation and courts that struck down bans on interracial marriage: these things were done at time when the will of the voters may have been to the contrary.

I don’t think that affirming a right that’s inherent in the words of our Federal Constitution infringes on others. Just like other equal protections, I am free to hold whatever views I want and express them as I see fit — there is no law against being racist or homophobic, only against acting on those beliefs in certain ways. What effects can this decision actually have on the heterosexual public? I don’t see the possibility of more openly gay relationships or more gay people in Iowa interfering with any of my or my family’s freedoms.

]]> By: Rebecca Renard http://laurabergus.com/2009/04/you-didnt-believe-me-that-iowa-was-progressive/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Rebecca Renard Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:22:06 +0000 http://laurabergus.com/?p=154#comment-292 My concern is over turning voters. This is a serious move for the judicial branch which is not to be legislative but uphold actual laws. This sends the message that a vote does not matter. This sends the meassage of a ruling class making decisions for the "little" people who do not know better. When votes and actual law are cancelled out by a "ruling" it leads to frustration and unrest. My concern is over turning voters. This is a serious move for the judicial branch which is not to be legislative but uphold actual laws. This sends the message that a vote does not matter. This sends the meassage of a ruling class making decisions for the “little” people who do not know better. When votes and actual law are cancelled out by a “ruling” it leads to frustration and unrest.

]]>