Bryan Gruhlke

Earlier today I heard a radio host here in Des Moines complaining that those against same sex marriage did not have a valid claim that activist judges were to blame for recent developments (particularly here in Iowa). “So we had activist judges…and now activist legislatures?” was his sarcastic question.

Ugh. Activist judges are a problem. Dismissing a group’s opinion based solely on their stance on a different issue (same sex marriage in this case) doesn’t dimish this fact.

As a supporter of same-sex marriage I freely admit I am not a supporter of how the change was brought about here in Iowa. It is completely true that an activist judge set social policy. Public and social policy should be in the realm of our elected officials, not determined by someone none of us originally selected.

This judge should have forwarded the case to the Iowa Legislature. In this way Iowans would have been able to express their desires. Instead, a judicial appointee made the decision for everyone.

The recent steps taken by New Hampshire and Maine are entirely appropriate, and I praise them for it. The people’s representatives made the choice and change was brought about how our founders imagined it should.

We need to reign in these judges, regardless of their political stance. Their only job is to weigh arguments and determine their validity based on our laws (including the Constitution). Never should their personal beliefs or desires weigh in the decision. It would be a hard job, but that is why we need the best people for it.

Visit the radio host’s site: Bradshaw @ 98.3 WOW-FM

Had a good conversation the other day with a good buddy of mine regarding the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision overruling a law denying marriage to homosexual couples. Take a gander, and leave your thoughts and views below.

Bryan: ugh, some of the people i talk to online are pissed about iowa allowing gays to marry
Bryan: who cares? not like regular marriages work out so well all the time
Jason: i would agree to a certain point
Jason: the thing is it doesn’t matter if they’re republican or democrat – it’s their religious point of view.
Bryan: ah, but we allow for many religions
Jason: there’s a verse in the bible about gays i cant remember it off the top of my head but it pretty much says DONT DO THAT
Bryan: who says your religion decides marriage?
Bryan: as i see it, you can do what you want as long as you don’t try to push your beliefs on me
Jason: u have to go back in time where u got married to have kids not like today where everyone does everyone
Jason: i would agree but marriage is a religious thing and gay in any kind of religion is forbidden
Bryan: marriage is a religious thing to you
Bryan: and being gay is not forbidden by all religions
Bryan: there are christian religions/churches that allow it
Jason: it very much is. gay’s should not be allowed to get married. what pastor or father in there right mind would even go do that?
Jason: well not mine
Bryan: father, no, that would be catholic, and they frown upon it a bit
Jason: if they go by what the bible says it’s a messed up church
Jason: i’m catholic, so my mind’s not changing
Bryan: exactly – if they follow the bible verbatim they are screwed up
Bryan: that is fine
Bryan: i personally don’t understand gays, or how it happens, but if two people want to be together that is fine with me
Jason: that’s the thing they CAN be together no one’s watching over them saying no dont put it in. Marriage in my mind is a religious thing not a piece of paper saying u can save money on taxes
Bryan: that is a good opinion

A few other opinions:

• Bob Vander Plaats (Iowa Governor candidate)
• Mike Huckabee
• Matt Coles (The Huffington Post)

Don’t forget! Tomorrow is Tax Day here in the United States. And it is also the start of the new American Revolution. There are literally thousands of Tea Parties planned throughout the country to show our displeasure at the management of our government (regardless of the majority party).

Check out Tax Day Tea Party to see a list of confirmed Tea Parties and plan to attend one. Let your opinion be heard!

I will try to attend the Des Moines Tea Party tomorrow at the State Capitol (starting at noon). Stop by – don’t be afraid Leave a comment below if you are attending and I will try to find you tomorrow.

A note to the Obama-haters – the Tea Party is not a bash Obama/Democrats event. It is designed to attempt to create change at all levels of our government; to try to get us back on course and following the Constitution (still the greatest document the world has created). If you just want to gripe about Obama, please: stay home.

Bob Vander Plaats

Already the 2010 gubernatorial campaign in Iowa is heating up. Chet Culver, the Democratic incumbent, is up against Republicans Bob Vander Plaats and Bill Northey (along with several other potential candidates).

It seems we already have a defining issue for the campaigns – the proposed Gas Tax increase. Both Vander Plaats and Culver oppose the idea, while a few other Republicans support it. The increase is designed to ease the financial shortcomings of the state. The current legislature does not want to erase any existing services, but income has dropped. “Where to get the money?” they asked.

How can this be considered acceptable? If I, as an individual citizen, lost a portion of my income would it be deemed appropriate to demand that my lifestyle not be affected? No, I would be expected to cut my expenses – I couldn’t just require others to give me more money.

Iowa needs to realize the need to cut expenses. Over the past few years this state’s government has increased under Chet Culver’s leadership. It is time to scale back and remove the unused, poorly implemented, or ineffective programs that are dragging us into debt. Rather than grab more money from the citizens to make up for poor planning Iowa needs to find a way to do with what it currently has.

Will it be hard? Probably. But no one should be forced to make up for someone’s errors – especially when that someone is the government.

Your Thoughts, Please!

Please let me know what you think! Write your thoughts, opinions, or points in this articles Comments. I appreciate everyone’s responses!