denying someone their right to get married is just inhumane.

The gays will marry first

I mean, I'm hopeful that marijuana will never be legalized. It muddies the mind, slows reaction time...from my experience, only the people who cannot figure out a healthier way to destress or deal with life's problems smoke weed.

If we legalized pot, I bet you'd have a lot fewer Republicans with their princess panties in a twist over gay marriage.

I think gay marriage will be legalized first. I, personally, would still not do pot if it were legalized. It messes with my ability to run, and that's something I love a lot more.

I think medical marijuana will be legalized before gay marriage, but gay marriage will be legalized before recreational marijuana.

Also, I'll point out again, the positions of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party on gay marriage are shockingly similar.

And I will point out again that, with all respect, it's silly to pretend liberals are as homophobic as conservatives. It's just not true, LilKim.

You're equating all liberals with all Democrats again, which again, is not an equal comparison.

I know your hatred for Republicans and your notions about the few you're worked with greatly clouds your judgment, though.

I don't hate anything, or I try not to. I've always talked to you with respect, yes? It's true that I have no love for this Republican party, but that's because I think it's morphed into something especially radical. I suspect that you'd agree with that in you heart-of-hearts.

In fact, the most recent Gallup poll I can find states that only 55% of Democrats support gay marriage.

No, I don't agree. And, while you have talked to me with respect, the way you put down the Republican party as a whole shows your extreme dislike, if you don't like the word hate.

I agree with Lilkimbo, Space your Hypocrisy knows no bounds.

You guys bankrupted my country, started an illegal war based on lies, win elections by crusading against my rights, and are now blockading any reasonable measures to bring America back from the brink. I am understandably a little upset.

I would argue it's the Republican party that has clouded judgement. I do believe that most of you love the Republican party more than you love your country. That is my opinion.

But this is seriously OT. The topic is, "Which will be legalized first, pot or gay marriage?"

I could say the same thing about Democrats, who made up the majority of Congress during the time that you claim the Republican Party did all of those things.

Pot should be legalized IMO.

Gay Marriage? sure, but dont force churches to perform it if they dont want to.

Then I guess we'll just agree to disagree, today - rather than take another trip around the barn. I'm on deadline, and it's actually sunny in Boston.

I do agree that it wouldn't be fair to force churches to do gay marriages, CG. The church where I got married wouldn't marry non-Christians, and I think it's a reasonable position. Our pastor didn't want to merely be a justice of the peace - rather someone acting in a biblically appointed role.

I also think pot should be legal. I tried it twice, and it wasn't NEARLY as potent a high as Ambien, which they have ads for on TV. Prescription drug abuse is a much stronger problem, in my opinion.

@spacekat-thank you. the republican party runs on sheer ignorance, hatred, bigotry, classcism, and alienation. it's ridiculous to pretend otherwise. look at glenn beck and rush limbaugh. these are the same people who overwhelmingly voted against a bill that would prevent gov't contracts from going to companies which contractually prohibit people from going to the judical system for help if they are raped . these are the same people who have no problem using gov't provided healthcare, but can't be bothered to extend it to the rest of americans. senator kyl said it himself "i don't need maternity care". it perfectly just describes the "i've got mine, screw you if you can't yours" republican credo.

anyway, i don't particularly like the premise of this question to begin with. should we be comparing people's civil rights to the ability legally smoke a drug? i think one is more pertinent and has a more devastating affect on people's lives then the other.

@lilkimbo- it's a slim majority of of democrats but it's still a MAJORITY. it's certainly a hell of a lot better than the 20% of republicans who think gay marriage should be legal.

i meant "i've got mine, screw you if you can't get yours" republican credo.

so sloane you judge all repubs on ...glenn beck and rush? talk about narrowmindedness!

Sloane, my point wasn't that Republicans aren't against gay marriage by a larger margin, my point was that it's ridiculous to point fingers solely at one party.

I, of course, totally agree with your assessment of the Republican party, Sloane. I also agree that the very premise of the question is flawed. I used to like Slate, but I find their pieces like this to be ridiculous. They were sold a few years ago, and took a real right-wing turn afterwards from their liberal intellectual roots.

And I think Democrats have a "screw you, I've got mine credo."

And good point about Rush and Beck, CG.

Sadly, the Republicans we see on tv and who hold certain positions are not indicative of the entire party. The same holds true for Democrats. I just don't understand why the sweeping generalizations. Or is it just that it's easier for conversation? (I don't mean that in a snarky way). Spacekat, I find it hard to believe that you actually believe that ALL republicans are like Rush (for example) and think like him. And I'm pretty sure Lilkimbo doesn't think ALL Dems are like and don't think like Al Sharpton or Rosie O'Donnel.

...and think like Al... not "don't think"

and actually it's not sad that the more visible Repubs and Dems are not indicative of the parties. That is actually a good thing lol. the sad part is that so many people think they are a representative of the whole.

Of course I don't believe that, KimPossible.

But what I do believe is that the majority of people in the Republican party have some fanatical ideas about government being bad, about free-markets always being good, and about minorities being on their own. I think it's a faith-based ideology, because there is no evidence that supports it.

When I listen to Glenn Beck, Marc Levine and Rush Limbaugh, I hear non-stop angry frothing about these ideas. I think the voters of the Republican party are very succectable to angry messages that empower the white Christian heterosexual male base of the party.

Not all of them are like this. But I do think it's a generally true statement. I should know, as I spent my early 20s in DC working in the Senate for the Republicans.

People, People!! This is about Pot and Gay Marriage, not about Republicans or Democrats!! Please lets keep it on topic.

Sorry, but I can see where this is going, and its only going to a four page comment section about Republican evils vs. Democratic evils.

That said, I agree with the comment about medicinal pot coming before gay marriage coming before recreational pot. Sad but true.

spacekat, I can see your point. But we're not all like that, I promise

I think gay marriage will be legal before pot is (and I hope pot never is, I know I'll never vote for it to be legal). I also agree that I don't think churches should be forced to marry people - homosexual or otherwise. It should be the churches decision as to who they marry. Which I believe is how it is now and I believe it should stay that way.

Spacekat, really, free market ideology and minimal government intervention is faith-based? On what faith? And which mainstream faith promotes the idea that minorities should be "on their own?" Further, which Republican tenet promotes the idea that minorities should be "on their own" any more than any other group?

my hunch is that gay marriage will become legalized before recreational pot. but i don't see either happening anytime soon (sad though because to allow gay marriage shouldn't even be a question in my mind - seems very dated to deny that right)

Good point, skigurl. I don't understand the arguments against gay marriage at all. I don't agree with the arguments against the legalization of marijuana, but I understand them and I see how a reasonable person could hold the view that it shouldn't be legalized.

I think both of these issues will probably be addressed at state levels long before there are any sweeping federal changes. I wouldn't be surprised if recreational marijuana is legalized in California before gay marriage is legalized in places like Mississippi or Arkansas.

I voted that same-sex marriage will be legalized first. I hope that both will eventually be legalized everywhere and I'm proud to be from a state that has both legalized gay marriage and decriminalized being in possession of pot. Gotta love Massachusetts!

@cg- no, but i do think the mindless drivel they disseminate is indicative of the mindset of MANY, not all republicans. and everything else i described were the actions of elected republican officials in congress, the people who are SUPPOSED to be rational republicans.

well sloane you are wrong.

lol, yea right. 80% of republicans don't think i should i have the civil rights i'm entitled to because i'm a lesbian. you're wrong.

NO U!!!!!

Same Sex marriage probably. I hope marijuana is never legalized.

Legalizing gay marriage will become legal first. Question is what will come first.. a woman president or a gay president? hmmmm...

(I should say.. Gay marriage will become legal first)

well neither of us will agree on this.

stalemate.

Is that Michelle (unpronouncable last name name) in your avatar?

I think gay marriage will be legalized first. I think it shouldn't even be an issue. Legalizing pot is a different issue like age limits and amount that can be bought.

Gay marriage should be legalized first.

@spacekat-lmao!

@cg-meshell ndegeocello

I'm not coming in on either side of the Republican/Democrat debate because I don't identify with either party (way too conservative for one, and far too liberal for the other - on all the wrong issues! ). However, someone mentioned a faith basis for a free-market economy/capitalism, and I wanted to mention Max Weber's piece The Spirit of Capitalism, in which he theorizes that the Calvinist work ethic and near-aestheticism/denial of 'earthy' pleasure/etc. in the 18th century, especially with it's emphasis on reinvestment of profits, is what made the capitalistic system possible on the scale we see it today and hadn't previously.

As to the actual topic - I think we'll see gay marriage legalized first, as we've started to crack that issue in some states already.

Stardust, that sounds like an interesting piece, but it doesn't speak to my point that economic conservatives of today aren't economically conservative for religious reasons. If anything, the major religions in the U.S., as they're practiced today, would be more economically liberal.

I think that gay marriage will get legalized first. Several states have it legal, while none have recreational pot legalized.

And it's just plain stupid that gay people can't get married. I always thought they could, until my state legalized it (and then made it illegal a couple months later).

Vanonymous - Same here! Love Massachusetts.

I'm not really sure which would get legalized first... I definitely 100% believe gay marriage should be legalized (but agree with what someone said about not forcing churches to perform them - there are plenty of churches that would be ready and willing, I am sure). The pot issue is a little trickier... I think it probably should be legalized, but I can also understand some of the arguments against it. It should at the very least be decriminalized as it is here in Massachusetts, for small amounts.

I think gay marriage will be legalized first. I don't have any sort of religious objection to it, although I do agree that pastors shouldn't have to perform them if they don't want to. There are plenty of gay-friendly churches who will. My deal with this is that I think marriage should be reserved for people who are going to be serious about it. The divorce rate in the US is sky-high. So gay or straight, only get married if you plan on staying that way.