We are now officially the coolest state in the union.

[grinninfoole]

MA state supreme court has affirmed and clarified its earlier ruling. The state must recognize gay marriages in exactly the same way that it recognizes het marraiges. Many other states seem to be gearing up to ignore this (in complete disregard of the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution), and that really sucks. However, I'm prepared to be part of the only state which on the right side of this argument, and I forsee enormous benefits to MA as gay people (a larger than average percentage of whom are highly educated and affluent) move here to get married, and stay to contribute to our tax base and economic well-being.

Am I a closet libertarian for saying that? :)

(click this link for a news report)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3460383.stm

Comments

[crouchback.livejournal.com]

Even the prospect of marriage may not overcome the deterrent effect of massive taxes. (Although the fact that removing the state income tax came very close to passing might factor in people's calculations.)

You're not a clsoet libertarian yet. :)

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

Thank god. It's a wacko ideology. AT least, as I understand it. Perhaps it's just that, being rich, I don't get why these folks are so obsessed about money.

Re:

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

Actually, we have one of the lowest state tax burdens in the country, we just don't load as much of it into sales taxes as other states. Also, I just got around to reading your long post of the other day about being a libertarian, and I would like to make clear that I am not trying to be offensive or provocative. It's just that the only libertarians I know are pretty kooky, even the ones I like and/or respect.

Re:

[crouchback.livejournal.com]

No offense taken, and don't take the fact that I hired Arcade to get you personally. :)

MA is right across the border from a state with no state income tax. Usually when I say this to MA residents, their reply is to say they get you with the property tax, but even with NH's property tax, their tax burden is still lower than MA overall, since they lack the other taxes MA has. (Not just sales tax, and they also lack a "use tax," which tax I don't think would hold up to a Supreme Court challenge.)

For me, when I was on active duty, it really sucked that MA was one of the few states that taxes military pay for deployed service members.

I really like New England (and MA in particular), but I suspect I'll be living in Neww Hampshire when I move back.