hypercrites

Quote from: wbcoleman on March 30, 2013, 10:42:18 pm

As an example, Jewish law prescribes that a Kohein, a priest, cannot marry a divorcee or a convert, which can be enough of a problem for the religiously observant, but for such a completely secular couple it still means they cannot marry within Israel.  And, of course, intermarriages may not be performed.

Are you saying that the state forbids it by law?  If so then Israel clearly violates my notion of getting the state out of the business of marriage. That's fine for Israel because it's their country and they can run it any way they see fit but the USA is forbidden from establishing a state religion.

The state forbids civil marriage, and the religious authorities prescribe the requirements for religious marriage.  I thought that's what you're proposing for the U.S.!

You and I both know that there is a long history of bubbles.  Most recently the real estate bubble and the dotcom bubble.

I think the biggest problem is that we (the govt) didn't let the last bubble pop.  As soon as it started to rapidly deflate in September of '08 Bush and Obama did everything they could to keep it inflated. Stimulus, bailouts, virtual zero interest rates for years-on-end, the printing press churning out $80B/month in the endless QE3.  In my opinion the economy now is an illusion, a dangerous illusion.

While it may very well be the case that the market is being propped up by the Fed holding interest rates near zero, it is still true that (1) the markets are not overvalued by any recognizable measure, so it's hard to call the rally a bubble, and (2) when O was reelected the market had already been rallying since March, 2009, so the prospect of four more years of him could have had an effect.  And it did..... for about two days!

You and I both know that there is a long history of bubbles.  Most recently the real estate bubble and the dotcom bubble.

I think the biggest problem is that we (the govt) didn't let the last bubble pop.  As soon as it started to rapidly deflate in September of '08 Bush and Obama did everything they could to keep it inflated. Stimulus, bailouts, virtual zero interest rates for years-on-end, the printing press churning out $80B/month in the endless QE3.  In my opinion the economy now is an illusion, a dangerous illusion.

Quote from: wbcoleman on March 28, 2013, 09:58:20 pm

I brought up Israel because civil marriage doesn't exist there.  Is that what you are advocating for the United States?

Probably so.  I'm just not familiar enough with the thing called "Civil Marriage" as it is in Israel to give you an unequivocal yes but is seems the general flavor is correct.

See, in Israel only religious marriage exists.  Christian and Muslim authorities control Christian and Muslim marriages.  The Chief Rabbinate controls Jewish marriage and, if you are Jewish but if your proposed marriage would violate some aspect of Jewish law, you cannot get married without leaving the country.

Sugar high?