How many of you are outraged by this fact?

[MrLabGuy]

The California Teachers Association is throwing its support and more than a million dollars to defeat Proposition 8 here in California.

Prop. 8 would overturn a decision by the California Supreme Court allowing Gay Marriage.

I'm personally leaning toward more of a Libertarian view on this issue but I'm outraged that the Teachers Union would throw that kind of money at an issue that has NOTHING to do with education. Our educational system in California is in shambles and local school districts are spending an average of $65 on children's school supplies.

Man this pisses me off. My wife and I are now yes prop 8 because of their involvement in this issue.

[Wagner]

Nothing, nothing, from Cali amazes me ever. I don't know what the he!! is in the water out there

[FSETH]

It is complete nonsense.

[Eric5273]

I don't believe the teachers association is funded by the state, but by private money from the teachers. If that is the case, then they can do whatever they want.

Did you hear that Apple and Google are also giving large donations to defeating the measure?

I think you guys should boycott and not use google's website or buy apple products ever again.

As Apple said in its statement about their donation, this is not a liberal or conservative issue. It's a civil rights issue.

[Werewolf]

Prop 8 is a political football. Most of the money supporting it comes from the Mormon church (not a lot of Mormons in CA).

The teachers association takes issue with it b/c the commercials say that gay marriage will be taught in schools (something the teachers deny)

The real issue is the economy and the fact none of the bailouts are fixing anything.

[JCL]

Add my name to those who are not outraged. Yes, it smacks of group-think, but that seems to be tolerated by society these days.

Why should not a professional association (or union, pick your flavour) be able to have a position on social issues? Maybe some of their members want to get married, or believe that others shouldn't be able to.

If the issue is being touted as one that will be 'taught in the schools', a claim I can't comment on, then it seems they were brought into the debate by the proponents of the legislation.

On the CTA website, it says that policy issues with regards to legislation etc are decided by 700 elected delegates. Sounds like a reasonably robust process, it isn't like one executive is running with it.

Now MLG, why would their involvement have any impact on your voting position? Is it purely to spite them? Are they responsible for school funding and the shortage of supplies?

And I checked on the Google factoid: their announcement is interesting:

As an Internet company, Google is an active participant in policy debates surrounding information access, technology and energy. Because our company has a great diversity of people and opinions — Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, all religions and no religion, straight and gay — we do not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues. So when Proposition 8 appeared on the California ballot, it was an unlikely question for Google to take an official company position on.However, while there are many objections to this proposition — further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text — it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 — we should not eliminate anyone’s fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love.

Posted by Sergey Brin, Co-founder & President, Technology

[Quicksilver]

The outrage is only justified if you disagree with
their cause. I'm sure those on the other side are cheering.
So it 6 on one half and a half a dozen on the other.
Personally i wonder if anyone really cares?

After all the echo continues "WEATHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT"

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

The California Teachers Association is throwing its support and more than a million dollars to defeat Proposition 8 here in California.

Prop. 8 would overturn a decision by the California Supreme Court allowing Gay Marriage.

I'm personally leaning toward more of a Libertarian view on this issue but I'm outraged that the Teachers Union would throw that kind of money at an issue that has NOTHING to do with education. Our educational system in California is in shambles and local school districts are spending an average of $65 on children's school supplies.

Man this pisses me off. My wife and I are now yes prop 8 because of their involvement in this issue.

[FSETH]

My mistake, I read the original post too fast. I thought the teachers were supporting banning gay marriage. I was setting up my fantasy football lineup the same time I was reading this thread.

I don't have an issue with gay people who want to get married, so I am fine with teachers doing this. Especially if the money is from private sources.

[trueX5er]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

Man this pisses me off. My wife and I are now yes prop 8 because of their involvement in this issue.

What? How does that make you any better than them? You are angry at a group of people fighting for something that does not conflict with their immediate interests, but then here you are doing the same? Correct me if I'm wrong, but is gay marriage in anyway effecting you and your wife personally?

[Meiac09]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

What? How does that make you any better than them? You are angry at a group of people fighting for something that does not conflict with their immediate interests, but then here you are doing the same? Correct me if I'm wrong, but is gay marriage in anyway effecting you and your wife personally?

Who the hell cares!?

It is ironic, however that the teachers dropped more than a mil, while apple only donated $100k.