The Muppets Dump Chick Fil-A

The Cathy family that owns Chick Fil-A have suffered another PR failure.  The Jim Henson Company, which owns the Muppet brand is severing relations with Chick Fil-A.  The Cathys loudly insist that they are free to believe what they want and to run their business any way they want to.  All of which is true.  But so are other business owners and it is encouraging to see a number of companies and organizations exercising their rights and distancing themselves from the hate and bigotry displayed by the Cathy family and their company.  This from The Jim Henson Company's Facebook page:

The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD. (http://www.glaad.org/)

I particularly like the fact that proceeds from Chick Fil-A are being given to GLAAD.   It's a nice extra slap in the face to Chick Fil-A.  How long will it take for AFA to cite this as another example of anti-Christian persecution?

GOP Lies About Excessive Corporate Tax Levels

One of the many disingenuous mantras of the Republican Party is that corporate tax rates are harming family owned small businesses.  The mantra is a lie for many reasons, not the least of which is that most family owned small businesses are operated either under limited liability companies or corporations that have filed for what's called sub-chapter S status, the result of which is that ZERO taxes are paid at the corporate level.  While the companies file a tax return - a form 1120S - it merely discloses the profit or loss for the year and how the results are allocated between the principals of the company.  As for larger corporations, the current tax code allows all kinds of loop holes and deductions.  Indeed, as Think Progress is reporting, between 2008 and 20011, twenty-six (26) large corporations paid no U.S. corporate tax despite in some cases earning billions of dollars.  It must also be noted, that what one needs to look at is the effective tax rate versus the highest marginal tax rate.  The two are entirely different things.   It's a system that Mitt Romney and the GOP seek to make even more egregious even as the middle class would be hit with higher burdens and/or decreased benefit.  Here are some highlights:

Over a four years period from 2008 to 2011, Corning Inc. was one of 26 companies that managed to avoid paying any American income taxes, even though it earned nearly $3 billion during that time. In fact, according to Citizens For Tax Justice, the company received a $4 million refund from 2008 to 2010. That didn’t stop Susan Ford, a senior executive at the company, from telling the House Ways and Means Committee this week that America’s high corporate tax rate was putting her company at a disadvantage:

American manufacturers are at a distinct disadvantage to competitors headquartered in other countries. Specifically, foreign manufacturers uniformly face a lower corporate tax rate than U.S. manufacturers, and virtually all operate under territorial systems which encourage investment both abroad and at home.

Ford told the committee that Corning paid an effective tax rate of 36 percent in 2011, but as CTJ notes, she is counting taxes on profits earned overseas that haven’t yet been paid and won’t be unless the company decides to bring the money back to the United States. Corning’s actual tax rate in 2011, according to CTJ’s analysis, was actually negative 0.2 percent.

The territorial system Ford testified in favor of would actually encourage the offshoring of profits earned by American companies, thereby reducing the amount they pay in taxes even more. And rather than helping remove a disadvantage that prevents companies from creating jobs, an economic analysis of such a tax system found that it could actually cost the United States as many as 800,000 jobs.

The United States does, indeed, have one of the highest marginal corporate tax rates in the world. In reality, however, few corporations pay it, and the nation’s effective tax rate is far lower than the rate in other developed countries.

Christianist Hypocrisy in North Carolina

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James Hamar - who is likely a distant cousin from South Carolina (and yes, he's gay) - had this image on Facebook and it was too good to pass up.  The image underscores the hypocrisy and selective reading of the Bible that are the norm for the Christianist crowd.  It also underscores why North Carolinians ought to be ashamed of the passage of Amendment One.   Like myself, James is of an activist mindset, so, if we are indeed related, I guess we must come by it genetically.

Yesterday's San Diego Pride

One can only image the shrieking and flying spittle that must be enveloping Christofascist circles as a result of yesterday's San Diego Pride Parade where uniformed members of the U.S. military participated in the parade.  Elaine Donnelly must have nearly had an aneurysm.   And Bryan Fischer and Tony Perkins must be spraying spittle on all those around them.

Personally, it is wonderful to see these service members on parade.  It goes a long way toward dispelling the image of gays promoted by the "godly Christian" set: alcoholic, drug using freaks and sexual perverts.  Obviously, none of the service members pictured above fit that image and they participation in the parade underscores the truth.  Here are a few highlights from the San Diego Union-Tribune:

It’s been a momentous year for San Diego’s LGBT community.  City leaders renamed a street in honor of Harvey Milk. A large rainbow flag is now a permanent fixture flying above Hillcrest. 

This November, voters will have the opportunity to elect the city’s first openly gay mayor. And active-duty members of the military wore their uniforms for the first time in Saturday’s San Diego LGBT Pride Parade with the government’s blessing. 

The loudest cheers from the parade crowd of nearly 200,000 were reserved for them.  The U.S. military contingent included about 40 members — some active, some retired. As they assembled in the staging area, countless spectators took pictures of and with them. Most of the active-duty personnel said they were under orders not to give interviews although photos were fine.

 We are slowly and steadily winning the war for equality.  Expect the haters to become even more vile and vitriolic as they fight a rear guard action on a mindset headed for the trash heap of history.

 

Sunday Morning Male Beauty

Eagle Scout Returns Badge; Major League Soccer Will End Partnership with Boy Scouts

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In the wake of the mysterious vote by an unnamed committee - possibly influenced by the Catholic and Mormon Churches and some hate groups - to maintain the anti-gay policies of the Boy Scouts of America, the fall out continues.  A straight Eagle Scout has returned his Eagle Scout badge stating that he wants nothing to do with the bigoted policies of the organization.  Here are highlights from Towleroad:

Martin Cizmar, the arts and culture editor of Portland Oregon's weekly Williamette Week, returned his Eagle Scout badge to the Boy Scouts yesterday in protest of the group's anti-gay policies.

Wrote Cizmar: "I am not gay. However, I cannot in good conscious hold this badge as long as the BSA continues a policy of bigotry. Though I didn't know at the time, I was acquainted with a number of gay scouts and scouters. They were all great men, loyal to the scout oath and motto and helpful to the movement. There is no fair reason they should not be allowed to participate in scouting."

Now, Major League Soccer has announced that it will end its partnership with the Boy Scouts.  The losers, of course are boys who could benefit from the continued association.  Sadly, the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America continues to place religious based bigotry (and possibly knukling under to bigots) ahead of the best interests of the boys that they are supposed to be championing.  Here are highlights from Yahoo News:

This January, Major League Soccer announced it was teaming up with the Boy Scouts of America to form a strategic partnership. It turns out that 2012 will be the only season this alliance will be in effect.

“Major League Soccer’s agreement with the Boy Scouts of America expires at the end of the 2012 season and MLS does not intend the renew the agreement for a variety of business reasons,” MLS President Mark Abbott said in a statement to Goal.com on Friday.

Under the partnership, among other cross-promotions, teams held “Scout Nights” at their stadiums with discounted tickets, and players would visit local troops to discuss fitness and leadership.  Earlier in the week, the Boy Scouts of America announced that following a two-year review, it would continue its long-standing policy of excluding gays.

MLS did not specify if the ruling affected its decision to end the partnership, but it should be noted the league has supported anti-discriminatory causes like You Can Play, an organization dedicated to ending homophobia in sports.

Additionally, many teams, including the Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, D.C. United and the Columbus Crew have held game promotions for gay and lesbian groups. This May, the Fire announced a partnership with Equality Illinois, a LGBT-rights group.

America's Insane Gun Laws

News reports continue to ad details the the slaughter early Friday morning in Colorado and the calculated planning by the shooter.  One detail that struck me in a Virginian Pilot article was the following:

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to in order to discuss the investigation, said that the jammed weapon had a high-capacity ammunition magazine. Police have said that a 100-round drum magazine was recovered at the scene and that such a weapon would be able to fire 50 to 60 rounds a minute.

Which raises the following question: why does any law abiding citizen need to have a weapon that can fire 50 to 60 rounds per minute?   The obvious answer is that no one does unless they are potentially up to no good.  These weapons have one purpose: killing large amounts of people in short periods of time.  One can only wonder how many other nut cases and delusional anti-government types are in possession of such weapons at this moment.  Will our politicians change these insane laws?  I'm not holding my breath.  That would require, courage and character - things not would in far too many of our elected officials.


UPDATED:  New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg is planning on reintroducing gun control legislation on the Senate floor to limit high-capacity magazines.  Lautenberg said that “the only reason to have 33 bullets loaded in a handgun is to kill a lot of people very quickly” and pledged that he would introduce legislation to ban high-capacity ammunition clips.  Watch the Republicans do all they can to defeat the legislation and leave the door open for more carnage.

Military Chaplain Who Failed to Condemn Gay Marriage Hounded from Job

Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali and Will Behrens at Service Attended by Wagoner

The far right's war against anyone who recognizes the humanity of gays and who understands that our relationships have worth continues.  Earlier in the month I wrote about the civil union service conducted at the McGuire Air Force Base chapel and noted that Col. Timothy Wagoner,an Air Force chaplain affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention for 20 years, had been present at the service.  Wagoner had been quoted as saying:

"I don't feel I'm compromising my beliefs ... I'm supporting the community."  .   .   .   "We have to respect the faith requirements of the chaplain and we have to take care of the needs of the airman."  .   .   .  "As a Southern Baptist, why was I here? I was here to lend support," Wagoner said. "I was here supporting Airman Umali. I've worked with him. He's a comrade in arms."   "I'm also supporting Chaplain Reeb," he said. "She gave a beautiful ceremony."

In the fear and hate based world of the Southern Baptist Convention ("SBC"), Wagoner was apparently guilty of heresy and the North American Mission Board of the  SBC has announced that Wagoner is abruptly leaving the SBC.  Yep, the bitter modern day Pharisees simply could not tolerate anyone who doesn't view gays as sick, diseased sinners.  Here are highlights from the announcement:

The Air Force chaplain who attended a same-sex civil union that took place in June has notified chaplaincy leaders at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) that he is leaving the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Southern Baptists love and pray for our chaplains. That being said, we only want to endorse chaplains who can support Baptist doctrine and belief without reservation,” said Kevin Ezell, NAMB’s president. “When it comes to what our chaplains believe and practice, we do ask and we do expect them to tell.”

NAMB chaplaincy leaders contacted Air Force Chaplain (Col.) Timothy Wagoner after an Associated Press article appeared in early July describing him as “watching supportively” during the civil union. At the time, Wagoner indicated to NAMB he did not support the ceremony. He also gave assurances of his support for Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and for the biblical definition of one man, one woman marriage.

“If an SBC chaplain concludes he cannot conduct his ministry in harmony with SBC beliefs and doctrine, then it is best to part ways,” Ezell said.

  

Wagoner sounds like he's a decent man and one can only hope that should he desire to continue his work as a chaplain that he can become associated with a less hateful and backward thinking denomination.  We need more people like Wagoner and far, far few like those on the North American Mission Board.  And based on the soaring number of "nones," the SBC along with similar denominations best known for hate and intolerance seems to be slowly killing the Christian brand.  In my view, the SBC version of Christianity can't vanish from the planet soon enough.  So many lives are harmed by such ignorant and bigoted beliefs.

More Saturday Male Beauty

The Sad Employment Reality for LGBT Americans

One friend from my former days in the GOP - we disagree politically greatly nowadays - often accuses me of being a "single issue voter."  That single issue in her mind is gay rights.  I respond by telling her that there are many issues involved (e.g., marriage rights, employment protections, tax law issues, the list goes on and on and involves over 1000 state and federal rights), so I'm anything but a single issue voter.  One of the most troubling issues remains the fact that LGBT individuals can be fired at will for no reason other than their sexual orientation in a majority of the states in this country.  It's a travesty and a perfect example of the special rights and privileges given to conservative Christian belief under this nation's laws.  Until this situation ends, there is no true religious freedom in the USA.