[MD] Quality decline in U.S. politics

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Arlo had asked]
So, just so we are clear, you believe that states should be able to 
decide whether or not to recognize interracial marriage. Is that correct?

[Platt]
Not any more. The Supreme Court struck down state laws against 
interracial marriage. But, voters have influence as we have seen with 
the recent shift in the Supreme Court towards conservatism,. thankfully.

[Arlo]
Help me out here. Do you FAVOR  the Supreme Court denying the rights 
of states to not recognize interracial marriage, or would you like to 
see this returned to the states?

What would be the difference between the Supreme Court striking down 
laws against interracial marriage, and striking down laws against gay marriage?

[Platt on whether or not interracial marriage promotes to the 
degeneration of society]
Hard to prove one way or another. What some consider a societal 
improvement, like graduating everyone regardless of performance in 
the name of equality, others (like me) consider degenerate.

[Arlo]
But what do you think? You seem pretty vocal that gay marriage would 
contribute to the (further) degeneration of society. Do you believe 
interracial marriage has as well?

[Arlo had said]
In your litany of associations with gay marriage you include, and I 
quote, "out-of-wedlock births, prostitution and 
pornography,  violence, drugs, profane language, discipline,u 
pholding the law,  etc., etc., all of which undermine the bonds that 
hol> a society together". These are the things you wish to equate 
with "gay marriage"

[Platt]
I don't "equate" those things. Those things don't "equal" gay 
marriage. Talk about distortion!

[Arlo]
 From you conversation with Keith.

"I think the effects are more subtle than that. When "marriage" comes 
to mean something other than socially approved union of a man and 
women, another moral code of society is weakened. For example, we 
have seen over the years a weakening of codes regarding 
out-of-wedlock births, prostitution and pornography,  violence, 
drugs, profane language, discipline, upholding the law,  etc., etc., 
all of which undermine the bonds that hold a society together."

It is a direct rhetorical equation. "Gay marriage" will weaken 
society in the same way that "out-of-wedlock births, prostitution and 
pornography,  violence, drugs, profane language, discipline, 
upholding the law,  etc., etc" have.

Too bad you lack the balls to just say these things outright, rather 
than resort to sly (but not to bright) rhetorical tricks.

[Platt]
Another gross distortion just so you could launch another personal 
attack, hoping that such attacks will help you win arguments.

[Arlo]
The only thing I "hope" is to point out your vile rhetoric, as I have done.

[Platt]
The question is nonsensical. But just to be clear, my position is 
that marriage should be restricted to the union of a man and woman.

[Arlo]
I know, the great beacon of "freedom" wants everyone to be "free" to 
be like him, nothing more.