Ruling by fiat is a prescription for chaos and revolution. Houston Mayor Annise Parker is flirting with disaster with her executive order recognizing same-sex marriages. Texas law is clear on this issue – less than 10 years ago, 76{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of Texans defined marriage in this state as between one man and one woman.
I’m often asked why Republicans are against “comprehensive immigration reform” that gives citizenship to people in the country illegally. The clear and simple answer is that Republicans respect the rule of law and recognize that ignoring and flaunting law will eventually result in the demise of any democratic society. We believe in the rule of law. From the US Army Counterinsurgency Handbook:
The presence of the rule of law is a major factor in assuring voluntary acceptance of a government’s authority and therefore its legitimacy. A government’s respect for preexisting and impersonal legal rules can provide the key to gaining it widespread, enduring social support. Such government respect for rules—ideally ones recorded in a constitution and in laws adopted through a credible, democratic process—is the essence of the rule of law.
For those of you that are praising Mayor Parker as “brave” and “heroic”, she is neither. She is, in point of fact, a gutless politician. Just over two weeks ago, the mayor won reelection with 57{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of the vote. Yet during her campaign, she never once mentioned this issue. In fact, during every single one of her campaigns, she has downplayed her activist role in the lesbian community. Now that she has won the election, and is term limited with no future elections in sight for her in the city, she decides to break Texas law with an executive order. If she really were “brave” or “heroic”, she would have announced this decision before the start of early voting.
Gutless. Politician.
At some point, citizens will turn on a government that ignores the rule of law. Annise Parker will have played a role in that revolution.
Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Watch for many more actions like this to follow over the next two years of her final term.
Parker is gilding her lily for her next, higher office.
Recall Parker.
David Jennings, I applaud you for your article! I personally had conversations with individuals who have played an active role in this hideous action against the Texas Constitution (by voting for Annise Parker for another term). For those of you who know my background, know that I can speak on this subject from a totally different perspective, but will wait for another time. At this point I will point out the reason we have rules/laws is to keep order to the chaotic world in which we live. There are reasons for a constitution, there are reasons for City Charters, Ordinances & Laws. The founders of this great country established its constitution and constructed special verbiage to prevent tyrannical oppression. Let us not forget that Tyrants have “special interest groups” in which they favor. We now have a need for our City Charter to be revised to prevent the misuse of “Executive Orders”. An Executive order should only be used as an emergency that would assist in the execution of an action or actions to benefit the community in a humanitarian manner and should be only for a temporary purpose. Daivd, I stand with you on this issue and will “shout it from the roof top” until it has been resolved!
I have to say that Mayor Parker did say unreservedly that she planned to implement this very concept at the Mayoral Forum held by the Houston Young Republicans on 10/11/13. In response to a question regarding the passage of “anti-discrimination” ordinance by San Antonio City Council, Mayor Parker said clearly that given the opportunity, she would enact similar ordinances in Houston, and planned to use whatever power she had at her disposal to begin to enact rules to ensure equality for the LGBT community. She warned us in advance.
As long as the policy only applies to those couples legally married (and that means in any State), I don’t think it’s a big deal. I would have a problem with giving benefits to unmarried couples.
I think the City needs an anti-discrimination ordinance that reads “The City of Houston does not discriminate, and will not do business with those who do”. Anyone who discriminates against people on the basis of race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other similar characteristic is an ass, and deserves our derision. I just wish all of the alleged “Christians” understood that.
Homosexual couples cannot be “legally married” in Texas, and Texas does not recognize the ‘marriages’ filed in other jurisdictions.
Texas will lose that battle when the relevant section of the DOMA goes before the Supreme Court. It’s a huge equal protection issue.
What Big Jolly doesn’t understand, is this is a fight old guys like him have already lost. Anyone who doesn’t believe that, go ask your kids, (or grandkids), you would be surprised to know that they probably do have an opinion on this, and it isn’t like the one Big Jolly holds.
All who voted for or supported Parker knew exactly who she is. What surprises me is how many otherwise conservative organizations like HRBC and ABC endorsed her. If we really want new leadership at City Hall, we need to start supporting Candidates with integrity and sound core principals. Houston deserves better than leaders installed by special interests.
“Dangerous Game?” leading to a “Revolution?” Wow. I’m shaking in my boots. (Not!)
First, it’s important to differentiate between an announcement to support a future city ordinance similar to the one recently passed in San Antonio, and a several year old executive order that only affected city employees. The latter might be reasonably described as “ruling by fiat” but that can not be said of bringing non-discrimination policies before the city council for a vote.
Also, while it is true that the constitutional amendment mandating unequal treatment under Texas law easily passed, less than a decade ago by 3/4ths of voters, more recent public opinion polling shows a steady and steep trend in the opposite direction. This is especially true in the younger demographics; the growing middle ground of GenX’ers and Millennials that the republican party says they need to “reach out” to in order to maintain their rule over the state.
But we’ve been down this road before. The social conservative authoritarian faction of the Texas republican party will get a few more electoral miles out of the lame horse they’ve hitched their buggy to. But it can’t last forever. That horse might fall over dead sooner than you think. Perhaps they should be shaking in their boots.
BTW, Has Greg Abbott sued the City of San Antonio yet? He said he was thinking about it. What is he anyway, a “squish?”