[MisterEd51]

Originally Posted by nerdtron

The problem is when one's beliefs or values restrict the basic rights and freedoms of others. I hear Sharia law mentioned once in a while. We don't want their beliefs imposed on us. But why is it okay to impose Christian beliefs on non-Christians? Just because Christians are in the majority? Believe whatever you want, but when it starts affecting others don't be surprised when the courts step in. It's not judicial activism just because you disagree with the decision.

I'm curious what horrible, progressive ideas are being forced on Alabama by northerners. I assume gay marriage is the hot topic now but I wonder what else?

Part of that comes from "moral equivalence" that seems to prevalent in liberal thinking now. What it means that one set of ideology is no better than any other. Some examples are:
* Sharia law vs US law
* Capitalism vs Communism
* Christianity vs Atheism
* Christianity vs Islam (or any other religion)

In some respects I don't have sympathy for Christianity because of the intolerance I have seen from people I have known. On the other hand today it seems that it has become the only religion that you are allowed to criticize openly.

You may wonder how all this change is coming about from groups that were or are in the minority. Such groups have learned that intimidation and bullying tactics work very well to change the status quo when reason and persuasion fails.

[TN2HSV]

I was born, raised, and lived the vast majority of my life in the South. I've lived in Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. I grew up in TN and have spent the lion's share of my life there, aside from a 3 year stint in GA (north of ATL) and I've been in HSV now for 3 years.

That gives you some background. I'm definitely southern! Born & raised! But I have to say, that while I do enjoy HSV and this area a lot, Alabama is most definitely the most backwards place I've ever lived. And I've lived all over Tennessee....Chattanooga, Cookeville, Franklin, Tullahoma, grew up on Monteagle mountain (talk about backwards), etc.

I was shocked at how different things are just across a state line. Nashville, Chattanooga, and most of middle TN are thriving. The lottery has done wonders for the education system (hope scholarship, for one). The roads in TN are in 10 times better shape than AL. Etc, etc. etc. and guess what? There's no state income tax in Tennessee!!! Our sales tax used to be higher than a lot of surrounding states, but Madison Co is just as high now as where I last lived in TN. TN doesn't have an ad valorem tax on motor vehicles. It's a flat fee of $26, and then if your county has a wheel tax that is added. IDK...for all the extra tax money that AL collects just by those 2 examples (income tax and car licensing), I can't see where the heck it's going!

If it weren't for my husband's long tenure with NASA, I would've made him move to TN when we got married 3 years ago! There are some things you won't do even for love or money, so I guess I moved here for love

[weaverra]

Originally Posted by nerdtron

The problem is when one's beliefs or values restrict the basic rights and freedoms of others.

Does one have the human right to murder another without cause unless the government says they can't?

[OmarLittle]

Originally Posted by weaverra

While we are not a democracy we are a representative republic. The minority still loses even in a representative republic. Anytime something is put up for a vote the minority will always lose. It seems you believe in the mindset of the minority trying to impose their will on the majority. That's not how it was ever supposed to work. The minority has found ways though through judicial activism to try to impose their agendas on a majority of the people.

Yeah, this is Alabama. We believe in separate but equal.

[southernnaturelover]

I'm glad I live right at the FL state line.

Want alcohol on Sunday? Drive across the line.

Want a lotto ticket? Drive across the line.

Want tax free groceries? Drive across the line.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Seth Parker

Prohibition was repealed. Every law relating to prohibition should have been repealed with it.

I completely agree. It is ridiculous that we have wet counties, dry counties, wet cities within dry counties, sales on Sunday in some cities, no Sunday sales in some cities, restaurants that can serve on Sundays but stores can't sell on Sundays, etc. It is just insanity that dates all the way back to prohibition that has never been corrected.

The no sales on Sunday is one of the reasons we didn't like Orange Beach/Gulf Shores when we visited a few times. That was probably 10 years ago and I have no idea if it has changed or not and don't care.....I wrote them off a long time ago. We were so pissed off when we arrived at our condo at Orange Beach one Sunday and then ran to the store to grab some adult beverages for the evening only to find out they didn't allow Sunday sales. We had to drive over to FloraBama across the state line and the parking lot was packed with a steady stream coming from the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores direction. Madness I tell you.

[MisterEd51]

There are plenty of northern states with higher incomes...on the other hand they also have a higher cost of living which includes taxes. The long cold winters up there don't help either.

I came from Illinois 36 years ago and don't miss the higher cost of living there. The state is way over their head in debt and on the brink of bankruptcy. In other words Illinois thought they could tax their way to property. That with crooked politicians only made things worse. I am glad I moved away from there. I just hope Alabama doesn't go down that road.

[FatTails]

Originally Posted by weaverra

Does one have the human right to murder another without cause unless the government says they can't?

Please. Taking an argument to that extreme is a fallacy. Murder deprives someone of their right to live. A ban on gay marriage serves no rational purpose. Because the Bible says so isn't a good reason.

I support the court's decision to strike down the ban on gay marriage because I believe the government overstepped its bounds by passing an unnecessary law meant only to discriminate against a certain class of people. I guess that makes me a right winger since I think the government needs to back off. Or does that make me a socialist? I get so confused sometimes.

I'd still like to know what terrible and horrible progressive ideas are ruining Alabama. So far all I've heard is how terrible the federal courts are for ending state sanctioned discrimination over the past fifty years.

[weaverra]

Originally Posted by nerdtron

Please. Taking an argument to that extreme is a fallacy. Murder deprives someone of their right to live. A ban on gay marriage serves no rational purpose. Because the Bible says so isn't a good reason.

You seem to think that our fundamental rights come from government. That's why I asked that question. Our founding fathers believed our fundamental rights come from God. That was stated in our Declaration of Independence. If our fundament rights do not come from God then you have no fundamental rights. Gay marriage serves no purpose other than benefits for the people involved. The reason you find no reference to God in the Constitution is not because our founding fathers never acknowledged God. It's because the Constitution is there to tell the Federal Government how it can operate.

Originally Posted by nerdtron

I support the court's decision to strike down the ban on gay marriage because I believe the government overstepped its bounds by passing an unnecessary law meant only to discriminate against a certain class of people. I guess that makes me a right winger since I think the government needs to back off. Or does that make me a socialist? I get so confused sometimes.

I'd still like to know what terrible and horrible progressive ideas are ruining Alabama. So far all I've heard is how terrible the federal courts are for ending state sanctioned discrimination over the past fifty years.

Did you know or even realize that defining marriage is not a Constitutional power granted to the Federal Government? The Supreme Court even acknowledged that in 2013 by upholding section 2 of DOMA. That's why this is a big deal. Everyone on here wants to claim constitutional rights, constitutional rights, constitutional rights, but when it comes to something you want to see through it's trash the Constitution.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

The no sales on Sunday is one of the reasons we didn't like Orange Beach/Gulf Shores when we visited a few times. That was probably 10 years ago and I have no idea if it has changed or not and don't care.....I wrote them off a long time ago

So....you come to a place to visit, and you want to dictate to the year-round residents of that place how to live and conduct their business.
And your No. 1 priority was to buy booze.

Ohhhhhhkaaaaay.