An Invitation

11 Comments

1. 

   briank on March 30, 2011 at 9:26 pm

   This bill passed the Indiana House today. According to the Indianapolis Star’s statehouse reporter, the vote was 72-23. My ostensibly Democratic rep voted for the bill.

   Rep. Turner apparently apologized for his comments yesterday, but that didn’t change the bill.

   To me, the saddest part was that an amendment offered to require that only “objective, scientific” information be given failed 40-54.

2. 

   Indianadem on March 30, 2011 at 9:53 pm

   The Indiana General Assembly – Proudly leading the way into the nineteenth century.

3. 

   mainsailset on March 30, 2011 at 9:53 pm

   Stupid just seem to spin so much faster than…well, than anything rational.

4. 

   Richard Bachman on March 30, 2011 at 11:20 pm

   Meanwhile, here in Ohio, this proposal creeps along toward become the law of the state.

   It’s supporters proudly say:

   The bill would be the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the country

   Makes me so proud to be a Buckeye.

5. 

   Geov Parrish on March 30, 2011 at 11:21 pm

   Speaking for my coastal border state, I’d like to formally offer this application to become a province of Canada. They’ve got their problems, too, of course, but at least they tend to be disagreements based on rational thought.

   I’m usually pretty optimistic, but at least once a day now, usually more often, I come across stories like this that keep bringing me back to the same conclusion: We. Are. So. Fucked. And the common theme seems to be that large sectors of our society – large enough to cause political paralysis at the federal level and nightmarish local politics – are heaping pure contempt on the notions of rational thought and empathy.

   That’s not a country I, and many other people, ever want to live in. But here we are. So here’s the key question: what are we going to do about it?

   • 

     Richard Bachman on March 30, 2011 at 11:32 pm

     I kind of lay the brunt of this issue at the feet of religion.  If it wasn’t for our delusional devotion and deference in this country to “faith”, as they like to call it, issues such as this would be able to dealt with in a sane and rational manner.  Irrational religious fervor is at the root of much of this craziness, even when it comes to the economic issues.

     • 

       Geov Parrish on March 31, 2011 at 1:21 am

       Agreed that it’s a problem (though there are plenty of people of faith who don’t reject science or reality). But we also seem to have made empathy a dirty word in much of our mainstream discourse, in a way that’s nearly unpredecented in our culture. That one’s got a more complicated set of roots.

       • 

         Quentin on March 31, 2011 at 3:18 am

         Yes, a lack of empathy. On the other hand you can call it what it is: an overabundance of good-old-fashioned nastiness, hate, intolerance, anger and whatever. People are not allowed to live the lives dealt them. They must either learn to uphold the norm of the ruling minority or die. The notiont of ‘tates rights’ has kept the US locked in a cage. We can chew over that one for a while.

6. 

   RandyH on March 31, 2011 at 4:40 am

   Despite all the abortion talk and such, Boo, I have done a little comparison shopping and I think that Peyton Manning is just a little bit cuter than Eli Manning. Sorry to disagree with your taste in hot guys, you know… But, of course, I wouldn’t throw either of them out of my bed.

7. 

   donnah on March 31, 2011 at 8:57 am

   Yes, the women fleeing Indiana can skip their neighbor state, Ohio on their flight from restrictive anti-abortion laws. We, and I mean the Republitards here, passed the “heartbeat” bill, which may go to the House floor for a vote.

   And there are no provisions for rape, either.

8. 

   rikyrah on March 31, 2011 at 9:24 am

   they can come to Illinois. very welcome here.