Gay couples are lining up to get married in California following a recent state Supreme Court ruling. Writer Michelle Johnson- who took advantage of the Massachusetts law allowing gay marriage - argues that the sky will not fall: “Heterosexual couples will continue to marry and live happily ever after - or not- unaffected by the fact that their gay and lesbian neighbors can do so as well.”

But Robert Alt of the Heritage Foundation that the California Supreme Court, by ruling against the wishes of the state legislature- will hurt the cause of gay marriage since voters will come back in November and pass a constitutional amendment banning it. This leaves out the possibility of political compromise he argues.

Your view?

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A lonely Democrat in Cherokee County

By AJC Opinion | Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 07:39 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Delores “Dee” Nickel describes herself as “an endangered species” - a liberal Democrat in heavily Republican in Cherokee County. And living there has given her new insight into the conservative mindset.

-“Any taxpayer money used to help the poor or disabled is socialism, the result of an individual’s failure to accept personal responsibility. Period. There is no other reason. Tornadoes hit, Katrina devastates, floods destroy. Have insurance, and do not expect governmental intervention. Never mind that insurance companies earn billions and will find every reason not to pay. If one chooses to live in Florida, California, Louisiana, Mississippi or any damaged area, that is the price you have to pay.

-“Illness? Disability? Poverty? The fault lies with the individual. “

She further writes, “Remember, these are all Christians who are devoted to the Bible — but not the admonition to take care of the poor and ill among us. It is one thing to perform an individual act of charity and kindness, which they all do, and quite another to use taxpayer money to assist our own people. “Unbelievably, all support the war in Iraq. All believe weapons of mass destruction were actually found but “hidden” from us. Most believe, to this very day, that Iraq was involved in the horror of 9/11, never mind the evidence to the contrary.”

Nickel concludes, “I can easily see the huge political divide in this country and do not believe there will ever be a unification of ideas or ideals.”

What is your take on her take of suburban Atlanta conservatives?

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