Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Just when I thought I had identified all the reasons why I dislike New York

There are quite a few reasons why I'm not the biggest fan of New York, but after only a few weeks in office following Eliot Spitzer's resignation, Governor Paterson gave me yet another one a couple weeks ago. Since the Senate in New York has not passed Spitzer's proposed legislation to legalize gay marriage, Paterson has decided to take it upon himself to honor same-sex marriages performed in other states and will update ~1,300 New York statutes accordingly. What is it with these non-legislators lately deciding that they can make laws? First, 5 judges in California decide that the votes of all the constituents within the state don't matter, and now we've got governors (who weren't even elected in the first place) enacting laws without even waiting for a vote. Nice.

Apparently, the governor and other sympathetics of the cause cite Article IV, paragraph 1 of the Federal Constitution which reads as follows:

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

Um, wait...since when do we do we follow the Constitution? I thought the role of the legislators was to modify the Constitution beyond recognition, and if that doesn't work, just ignore it altogether? I love how when the Constitution is inconvenient it is ignored as some outdated document written by a bunch of dead white guys during an era which is no longer applicable. Yet, as soon as it affords some self-proclaimed underprivileged group the opportunity to reap benefits to which they would otherwise not be entitled, all of a sudden it's quoted as gospel. Funny how that works. Actually, no it's not.

I think tomorrow I'm going to go buy myself a holster for my .45 calibur pistol that I bought in Texas and start wearing it on my hip. My carrying permit will be recognized by New York according to Article IV paragraph 1, right Mr. Paterson? Or maybe I'll build a casino as a non-Native American (don't get me started) since you'll naturally recognize the laws of Nevada. Better yet, I'll just stop paying state taxes altogether since I wouldn't have to in Florida where I have my house.

Thanks Mr. Governor, this is going to be great... I might actually be able to forget that I live in New York. Well, at least until the next time someone cuts me off on the road and then flips ME the bird.

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