Recent Important News Stories

by Jason Stotts

With crashing OCON, work, and a long essay I’m working on now, I’ve been rather remiss in blogging.  Unfortunately, this means that I missed the chance to discuss several really important news stories, so I’m going to remedy that here and condense them all into one post.

1. DOMA Ruled Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts, has ruled that the federal ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, because it interferes with an individual state’s right to define marriage.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that “as irrational prejudice plainly never constitutes a legitimate government interest,” the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the protection under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

This is definitely the right decision and it’s nice to see that the judge has the right idea about the things about which the government should and should not legislate about.

2. VA hospital may have infected 1,800 veterans with HIV

A Missouri VA hospital is under fire because it may have exposed more than 1,800 veterans to life-threatening diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis has recently mailed letters to 1,812 veterans telling them they could contract hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after visiting the medical center for dental work, said Rep. Russ Carnahan.

Welcome to life under socialized medicine.  This is by far not the worst story we’re going to see happen as the government takes more of a role in healthcare.

3. Advance in Quest for HIV Vaccine

In the latest development, U.S. government scientists say they have discovered three powerful antibodies, the strongest of which neutralizes 91% of HIV strains, more than any AIDS antibody yet discovered. They are now deploying the technique used to find those antibodies to identify antibodies to influenza viruses.

This could be the beginning of the end of AIDS and a fresh start for many people who are already afflicted with it.

4. Court Tosses Out FCC Rules to Curb Indecent Speech

A federal appeals court threw out the FCC’s rules on indecent speech Tuesday, in a big win for broadcasters that could lead to a new Supreme Court test of the government’s power to control what is said on television and radio.

The judges found that the agency’s decision to sanction broadcasters’ airing of one-time or “fleeting” expletives is unconstitutional, and suggested the FCC’s broader indecency enforcement efforts are unconstitutional as well.

It’s nice to see separation of powers at work. Maybe the zeitgeist is a-changing and freedom is on the horizon.  Let’s hope so and continue to work for it.

5. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Goes to Court

President Obama’s remarks that the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy weakens national security shows it should be declared unconstitutional, a lawyer for the nation’s largest Republican gay rights group told a federal judge Tuesday.

The case has put the federal government in the awkward position of defending the policy that Obama has said should be repealed.

Let’s hope that’s the end of that law.