How is the perspective that every American have the right to their own beliefs, and that the government shouldn't play favorites with those beliefs limited, provincial, narrow, or lacking in depth? I think the idea that there is one morality, dictated by one religion is all of those things. Not the idea that every has the right to practice what they believe or don't believe, non-violently.

"Churches will not be able to deny the rites of marriage to same-sex couples" I am tired of hearing this flat out lie. Legalizing same-sex marriage will in no way force churches to marry couples that they do not want to marry. A church is a private institution that the government does not get to interfere with, but in tun no religion can establish itself as the law of the land. Just as a synagogue doesn't have to marry a Catholic couple, and a Lutheran church doesn't have to marry Muslim couple, a church is in no way required by law to marry a sane'sex couple, nor is anyone asking for that. And just in the way that a Catholic is very unlikely to want to be married in a synagogue, it is very much in doubt that a same-sex couple will want to be married in a church that is openly hostile to them. And if they do by chancce pick such a church, I , and the United States government support that churches right to say "No." The truly American concept we seem to have forgotten is that everyone has a right to their own opinions (but not facts), and has the right to live their own nonviolent life as they please. This means that our government has to be secular, even if our citizens are not. And just I do not want our government dictating how I worship, or my neighbor worships, I do not want our religious beliefs dictating our government. Every American is expected to agree to tolerate his neighbors' wacky ideas about the meaning of life in exchange for the tolerance of his own ideas. Our government's job is to remain secularly neutral, neither establishing one or any religious beliefs over another, or interfering with non-violent religion.

"The land of the free and home of the brave will be degraded and transformed into a place where the weak and vulnerable are exploited and power trumps principle" This has already happened. Income inequality is the highest the US has ever seen. Our politicians listen to corporations and lobbyists before their constituents, and even then they refuse to make decisions for the good of our country. Instead they make decisions that are good for business. Good for companies, but very rarely is any legislation passed that actually helps people or will move this country forward. In a US where corporations have the same rights as a person, you're not going to see the average citizens with any political power.

I think the the Healthcare Bill is terrible legislation that should never have passed. Although I am in favor of sweeping overhauls of the healthcare system in the United States, I don't think that forcing everyone to buy insurance (which only benefits insurance companies) is the answer.

First, Mr. Santorum is absolutely right. The government had no right to do such a sweeping investigation of the AP with little to no evidence. It has a dangerous chilling effect on nation security journalism, which is a huge part of our nation conversation, sadly.

Look, I absolutely agree that Cuba has down some awful things in the past. I also disagree with many of Mariela Castro's statements. However, her stance as a gay rights activist is pretty well known, and she has made some changes in Cuba for the better. Perhaps if we lift the 50 year old embargo we could offer greater influence over the country we have absolutely ensured remains in poverty today. I don't like the Weather Underground more than anyone else. They relied on violence to solve political problems and that's almost never the answer, but Mariela was 5 years old in 1969. I very much doubt that she had anything to do with influencing their group, and don't think that it bears mentioning.

No. My boss isn't telling me how to think, what events to attend, or what to thinks. My boss is setting a requirement on how I treat my fellow employees, even ones I may personally dislike, to ensure that the work environment stays productive and cordial. We live in a free society. But your boss gets to tell you how you act at work. Just as I am expected not to comment about some coworker's religious beliefs, and tolerate them even if I personally dislike or disagree with them, they should be required to at least pretend that they don't hate gay people.

When has there ever been an example of homosexuals wanting to abolish the age of consent? When has that law been proposed?

And heterosexual people are? I know plenty of straight people who sleep with a different person every night. And I know plenty of gay people in long-term relationships. But really, why does it matter? Who cares if someone sleeps with 1 person a year or a 100? Shouldn't their sex life be their business?

Because being gay isn't a disease.