Obama orders end to the practice of denying same-sex partners hospital visits

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Well, if your political beliefs are diametrically opposed to Bush's and in line with Obama's, he is better. He made several executive orders almost as soon as he took office to reverse some that Bush had made. That was good with me because I didn't like the ones that Bush had made. Obviously, if you don't agree with his basic philosophies, you're not going to like the President, no matter who he is.

Exactly. This entire thread has been a d'uh moment.

To add some perspective, I am gay. Gay marriage was only recently made legal in DC. However, even if I do get married here, my marriage is only recognized in those jurisdictions which have it or recognize it.

There are something like a thousand rights which go along with "marriage" -- gay marriage itself is a victory for me because being legally married ensures that my spouse is my next of kin.

Imagine having to do a thousand different things, paperwork, living wills, briefs, etc, etc in order to get the same things that another married couple would get just by being married.

Argue whether he's a dictator if you want. You have that privilege to do so if you've never had to worry about what you'd do when the time came to get married, "married," or whatever your locality deems it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Argue whether he's a dictator if you want. You have that privilege to do so if you've never had to worry about what you'd do when the time came to get married, "married," or whatever your locality deems it.

Enter "heterosexual privilege."

That's analogous to saying that "white privilege" is what allows whites to critique Obama because they have the privilege to be more concerned with "other stuff" while Blacks are busy rejoicing that he's in office and perceptually furthering Black socio-political advancement.

Nah, the real point is that people don't critique when they agree but will shit fire when they don't agree. And they'll also act like it's a DUH moment when they don't agree as though what they eat should make everyone else shit. Then they'll pretend as though EVERYONE should suddenly know and acknowledge what the issue is with this President.

Thus, the cycle of political thinking. And let the record show that I never said I disagree with the practice of allowing same-sex partners to have hospital visits and hospitals getting out of the dark ages regarding that. But, agreeing or disagreeing with that is a SURFACE-level construct.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Exactly. This entire thread has been a d'uh moment.

To add some perspective, I am gay. Gay marriage was only recently made legal in DC. However, even if I do get married here, my marriage is only recognized in those jurisdictions which have it or recognize it.

There are something like a thousand rights which go along with "marriage" -- gay marriage itself is a victory for me because being legally married ensures that my spouse is my next of kin.

Imagine having to do a thousand different things, paperwork, living wills, briefs, etc, etc in order to get the same things that another married couple would get just by being married.

Argue whether he's a dictator if you want. You have that privilege to do so if you've never had to worry about what you'd do when the time came to get married, "married," or whatever your locality deems it.

This right here...in the preparation for my wedding this year, we have had to sit down with our parents and discuss all of these things to make sure we have these in order. I have had to make changes to forms at work and the whole 9.

Regardless whether you agree or disagree with same sex marriage, they should still be afforded the same privileges and comforts as anyone else when sick and in the hospital.

I am happy to see that the president is taking this step by treating people equally and fairly.

Hey EW...well check it...when you get married, doesn't the government take taxes for married coupled??

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Regardless whether you agree or disagree with same sex marriage, they should still be afforded the same privileges and comforts as anyone else when sick and in the hospital.

I agree.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I am happy to see that the president is taking this step by treating people equally and fairly.

There is a potential leap in here.

Along those lines, I foresee a "why is the President/gov't involved" response if and when the President is perceived to have crossed the line between directing freedom and...something else.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

There is a potential leap in here.

Along those lines, I foresee a "why is the President/gov't involved" response if and when the President is perceived to have crossed the line between directing freedom and...something else.

I just don't see it that way. Working in the health field as long as I have, sometimes the best medicines that we have to heal someone is family support. Something that the gov't can't tax or make someone pay for.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I just don't see it that way. Working in the health field as long as I have, sometimes the best medicines that we have to heal someone is family support. Something that the gov't can't tax or make someone pay for.

The bolded is a different topic than the one I'm responding to.

The government can't tax or make someone pay for (yet) but it can obviously be involved in other ways. And while we're at it, let's not forget that notions of "family" vary beyond heterosexual and homosexual.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Hey EW...well check it...when you get married, doesn't the government take taxes for married coupled??

Absolutely.

But why should it matter to the governments taxation scheme that you're married or not?

You should get no benefits (or removal of benefits) because you are legally attached to someone for the rest of your life. Seems rather dumb (and not because I'll end up single for the rest of my life).