Televised political debates - DO NOT WANT!

Look, I'm sure the media would love the ratings they'd bring (ha! Like anyone would tune into them anyway) but I see absolutely zero point in these damn things

Yes, America has them. Look at American election campaigns. The mere fact America does it is probably the biggest argument against them!


A series of semi-scripted (and don't tell me they aren't - because we know they are) questions on television for each leader to squabble to see who can mention their pet catch phrase the most times is NOT helpful.

Televised debates are competitions of charisma. It's a contest to see who has the nicest smile, who can look most staesmanlike and who has the best oratory skills. All of these are bloody irrelevent when choosing a political leader. They don't test knowledge or position or even intelligence and ability - it's all about the looks and the sound. It's a great way of removing substance from politics.

And it doesn't work in our context anyway. We have a Parliament. It's not about one person. It's about the party (or should be) not the leader of it. Yes, Blair (and Thatcher before) tried to make the parties into grand cults of personality - but this is a BAD direction, not something we should encourage.

And what about minority parties? The Lib Dems will demand a seat. Plaid Cymru and the SNP have already been given a nod - where do we draw the line? Having MPs? MEPs? Councillors? Greens and RESPECT and UKIP and gods forbid, the BNP?!


You want to see Brown and Cameron and Clark battle it out? Watch PM's Question Time THERE'S a test of knowledge, skill and acumen without the need for stage management.

Mexico city can has gay marriage!

Mexico city has has just passed the marriage equality bill 39-20 which will bring their civil unions law (like most civil unions law, the previous law did not convey the full rights of marriage) to fully fledged marriage - as it should be



And this is important - as we can see that seperate always manages the first - but never manages the second.

As was found in New Jersey despite civil unions having all the rights as marriage - on paper - New Jersey couples with civil unions are treated differently from those who are married in part thanks to the continuing homophobia of the US federal government

The new healthcare bill in America seems to be setting records of wishy-washyness and half measures - and it certainly threw women under the bus with it's grossly anti-choice inserts. But it also takes a stab at gay people - preserving the 'gay tax' on health benefits'



I say it again, these legal protections for our families are important - even more important than for heterosexuals. Because your relationships will be respected ANYWAY. But people will take any excuse to see our love as lesser, as 2nd rate as beneath 'proper' heterosexual love. And is it any surprise that they do? When religions and nations across the world agree with them and support it in their dogma, their speeches and their laws

Our lvoe has value - and is as deserving of the same protections and rights as heterosexual love.