Why do YOU have the right to vote on MY rights? (reject, paradise)

[Jaymes]

When gay marriage comes up to the ballot, what gives anyone the right to vote against something that will affect my rights?This goes doubly so if someone is straight, since it won't affect them at all.

This isn't a democratic society. We aren't allowed to vote on if Christians or atheists or Wiccans or Taoists or Buddhists or Muslims or black people or white people or green people get rights. Why do we vote on whether gays get rights?

[LongGe123]

So, you're saying that only people who support the proposal should be able to vote? Or are you saying that only gay people should be able to vote on this?

While no political system is perfect, I do think that giving everyone the vote is designed to allow the result to reflect the feelings of the majority of the people. Whether people are gay or not, they may have perfectly reasonable views for or against the idea of gay marriage, and they must be allowed to express their view through a vote.

In a society where democracy is the preferred system, denying people a vote based on sexuality is unlawful and is abandoning the very essence of the system. If issues were voted on by the only people that particular issue affects, then it's not a representative system.

In addition, who are YOU to say who it does and doesn't affect? How could you possibly know how it will affect every single person JUST based on their sexuality? All objections must be noted and taken into account. That means everyone (old enough) gets a vote.

[Buttons*]

i didnt realize homosexuality was a religion.

Why do people who are pro life get to vote on a ballot when i'm pro choice?

[Ori]

You should move over here Jensa if you want to get married.

I don't think people should be allowed to vote against you or anyone else that is percieved as being different, what you do in your private life is yours and I hope you have agreat time doing it.

I hope one day the people of the world will finally wake up and turn this planet into paradise, there has sure been enough Hell.

Good luck in the future.

[Jaymes]

Originally Posted by LongGe123

So, you're saying that only people who support the proposal should be able to vote? Or are you saying that only gay people should be able to vote on this?

I'm asking why a straight person should have any right to tell me when I do and don't deserve rights when they usually have no idea what it's like to be gay.

While no political system is perfect, I do think that giving everyone the vote is designed to allow the result to reflect the feelings of the majority of the people. Whether people are gay or not, they may have perfectly reasonable views for or against the idea of gay marriage, and they must be allowed to express their view through a vote.

Are you willing to extend that to everything? Would you trust your country to vote on all your rights?

It stops being an opinion and starts being oppression when their vote determine my rights.

In a society where democracy is the preferred system, denying people a vote based on sexuality is unlawful and is abandoning the very essence of the system. If issues were voted on by the only people that particular issue affects, then it's not a representative system.

I'm not suggesting that people be unallowed to vote on gay marriage unless they're gay. I'm saying it shouldn't be voted on at all. Rights aren't something that society decides at whim.

In addition, who are YOU to say who it does and doesn't affect? How could you possibly know how it will affect every single person JUST based on their sexuality? All objections must be noted and taken into account. That means everyone (old enough) gets a vote.

Unless they're a straight person intending to marry someone of the same sex, it won't affect their life at all. I can say that with confidence. If it does affect their life, it will be nowhere near the degree it affects the thousands and thousands that are barred from marriage, despite being longtime partners.

Originally Posted by Buttons*

i didnt realize homosexuality was a religion.

Where did I say it was?

Why do people who are pro life get to vote on a ballot when i'm pro choice?

I see that the same way... To borrow a view from Maesi, I see it as "if it's not your body or your life and nobody's getting hurt, butt out."

[LongGe123]

While I personally agree with you that marriage is something that should be allowed for all people regardless of sexuality, there is something else...

The problem is that it's far too easy to say that something is your right, and in such a society as western society, there are so many differing views, that votes are necessary on these kind of issues. There are bound to be people who would put up an argument against it being a right, based on religion or whatever, which means that a different task becomes clear.

If you are so convinced, as you so obviously are (and I agree), that it's your right, then it becomes your job to convince others, that's what it's all about. If people have objections, then that too is their right, and they have a right to express this rejection. We live in a world of no absolutes which means nothing can be said categorically, no matter how strong your conviction. Who are you to say what people's rights are and aren't? If we're to follow what we all believe to be our rights, the world would become an EVEN MORE unstable and crazy place. Society is mankind's answer to chaos.

You can't tell others what to think - if you took away someone's right to vote on an issue they felt strongly about one way or the other, even for a seemingly positive cause then it makes you an oppressor.

[Revasser]

I agree, it should not be something that is put up to vote at all.

Should we let the people vote on whether black people could get married? Should we let the people vote on whether women can own property? Should we vote on whether we should be able to beat up Arabs in the street? Should we vote on whether we're allowed to steal someone's property, as long as they're over 6' tall?

You don't put basic rights up to vote. That is an entirely ludicrous suggestion. It is an especially ludicrous suggestion to put the rights of an unpopular minority up to majority vote. I know it's rather overused, but the phrase "tyranny of the majority" springs immediately to mind.

[Jaymes]

If it's not my right to marry a consenting adult, then it's not anyone else's, either, and we should be able to vote on all marriage. Who's ready to vote on whether we should allow 20 year olds and 50 year olds to marry? Interracial couples? Infertile couples?

There is a vast difference between up and saying "well, it's my right to poke you all in the eyes!" and demanding the rights everyone else has.

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by Jensa

This isn't a democratic society. We aren't allowed to vote on if Christians or atheists or Wiccans or Taoists or Buddhists or Muslims or black people or white people or green people get rights. Why do we vote on whether gays get rights?

Well, you're saying that we dont get to vote for religions rights, but we get to vote for gay rights. Are religions in the same league as homosexuality?