Mark Krikorian Ignores Economic Benefits Of Marriage Equality
January 06, 2012 3:46 pm ET by Zachary Pleat
Mark Krikorian was surprised to learn on Thursday that labor unions are lobbying in support of marriage equality in Maryland. In his National Review Online post, he wrote that the reason it "seems improbable is that until recently, American organized labor, while misguided on many economic questions, was deeply traditionalist." He concluded that unions are now supporting marriage equality only because "the unions no longer represent many workers."
But what Krikorian has apparently failed to understand is that marriage equality has many economic benefits. The Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law argues that marriage equality creates jobs. It also estimated that in the first year same-sex marriage was legalized in six states, wedding spending from those marriages totaled at least $249 million:
Forbes estimated in 2004 that if laws were changed to legalize same-sex marriage in the entire United States, the wedding industry would see "a short-term gain of prodigious proportions" and eventually provide a nearly $17 billion boost to the economy over time. In another estimate, San Francisco's chief economist stated in 2010 that the "annual wedding-related spending would rise by $35 million in San Francisco, with an additional $2.7 million in hotel spending, if same-sex marriage were legal."
Business groups and leaders have also expressed support for marriage equality due to its economic benefits. The executive director of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce in New Hampshire praised the economic potential of civil unions in December 2007. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce argued that marriage equality in California "would improve the business climate" and would enhance "the ability of California businesses to compete nationwide for top talent."
In April 2011, top New York business leaders urged the state to adopt marriage equality "to remain competitive" and "attract top talent." A few months later, more than 75 business leaders in North Carolina signed an open letter opposing a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages "because of the significant harm it will cause our state's pro-business environment, its major employers, and efforts to spur job-creation in North Carolina."
The lack of same-sex marriage recognition has been shown to be costly to workers as well. As CNNMoney reported last week, same-sex couples "are paying as much as $6,000 a year in extra taxes because the federal government doesn't recognize gay marriage."
Theological hysterics and sentimental hyperbole is the best they can do.
Great state to live. Democratic governor and legislature. No fighting with unions, instead they sit down and negotiate. Republicans are inconsequential in this state and I love it that way.
Going along with that though you would have to eliminate the tax advantages for married couples and churches should then be taxed as any other group or organization.
You try explaining working together and rational thought to a group that does...all of that, and you won't get very far. They are two-faced to the extreme, one shouting "freedom is super duper!! why do democrats hate freedom?!" on one side, while shouting "Gays shouldnt have rights!" simultaneously from the other side.
We can't logic that away. They have crossed the Stupid Event Horizon, and are now lost into a void that cannot ever overcome the sheer mass of its deranged wrongness. We cannot convince these people.
But there are those we can. Just not in the group i mentioned.
The group of fundamentalists you speak of are mostly beyond reason and cannot be reached.( Christian Dominionists )
Their refusal to listen and/or discuss is a point of spiritual pride to them.
Compromise is not just only out of the question, compromise is evil and is a sin that endangers their standing with God, and their very soul.
In their view, homosexuality is not simply a sin, it is an abomination to God.
"Giving" or even "allowing" social and civil rights to/for homosexuals is a sin and an abomination of such severity that God will punish the entire nation for allowing it.
Homosexuality and homosexual "behaviours" & "lifestyles" should be criminal and punishable by imprisonment.
Wow...who knew. But why stop there?
Let's lower the legal drinking age to 14 and watch that ol' economy boil.
Heck, this budget problem is not so tough after all.
Methinks this might be one of Wesley's ill conceived but lazy "placeholder" posts.....just to signal us that he is still in the game.
After we've lowered the legal age for drinking we can lower the age on parental approval for marriage to 14 because it's just not fair to deny them a loving relationship based on age discrimination.
Allowing 14 year old boys to marry after a night of legal drinking would produce even more "economic benefits of marriage equality"...I smell a Nobel Prize in Economics.
It must be your finger.
Drinking age and the Rate of Human Development has nothing in common with the God Given Right that all are created equal.
The Wesley next claim is: 230 years of a tradition should override any knowledge gained during the hardships lived in that history.
Wes, take your ignorance back to the cave, my friend.
You need to show how having marriage equality WILL lead to things such as lowering the drinking age.
Otherwise I can use your logic and say that having voter ID laws will lead to laws requiring people needing to show their photo ID when buying stuff (not stuff that have statutory age limits, just stuff) from any store.
What's wrong with that? Around here they'd be considered patriots for paying higher taxes.
You are a LIAR, you are a punk, and you are pitiful trollscum
That's you.