The Politics of the Body

Let me see if I understand this correctly: what true conservatives, or what we would call today libertarians who are still true conservatives, desire is less intrusion and strictures of the so-called state in regulating the lives of those of us in the body politic. The cry of some so-called conservatives is that those of us who are liberal is that we want the state to regulate our lives through and by too many laws, e.g., social engineering.

So are the people, who identify themselves as so-called "conservatives" today acting in a non-conservative way, again, when they believe it is necessary to amend state constitutions to make sure that marriage is between one man and one woman? Isn't this the state working over time to regulate adult relationships in both the public and personal sphere?

This morning, I woke up to the news that the state of Oregon still has not implemented a domestic partner bill, which was supposed to be implemented Jan. 1, 2008 but was delayed because of a "conservative" group petitioning a certain circuit court in order to stop the implementation of the law (click here). Meanwhile, Indiana legislators are working hard to amend their constitution to be sure marriage is between one man and one woman (click here).

Politically, OR is a blue state or leaning Democratic, while IN is a red state, or leaning Republican. Yet are both states acting liberally?

Both states are joining others who have amended the constitution of their states, making it harder for our families to feel safe and secure, and are not living up to the conservative ideals that so many so-called conservatives espouse: less intrusion by the state on our public and personal lives.

There are times that I too want us as a nation to act with a more conservative bent.

Peace,

Brett