Regardless of what Congress decides to do, it’s clear there’s a lot of information on the issue in the media that’s simply not helpful. It’s not uncommon for current loan limits to be described as helping higher-cost housing or sometimes people think that it’s helping folks get loans they otherwise wouldn’t qualify for, but that’s simply not true. And a drop in the limits will be hard on middle-class buyers and sellers, because maximum conforming loan limits will drop in markets throughout the country. This will impact over 670 markets in more than 40 states–not just San Francisco, New York and Boston.

How will dropping loan limits now help stabilize housing markets? It won’t. And with real estate still flat or shrinking, everyone could use a boost right now. This economy is still in the crapper and the last thing we want to do is to block folks like Brian and I from being able to make a purchase, help the economy and at zero risk to banks or the government. Banks are afraid to loan money, folks. They aren’t giving away loans like they were back in 2003-2007. This is about helping the middle-end folks like Brian and I.

Letter sent to our representatives:

Hi there,

My husband and I are hard working, middle income earning professionals living in San Francisco. We’d like to own our own home and we certainly have the income to do it, but we don’t have the downpayment to cover the 2008 conforming loan limits that are set to roll back this September 30th.

Unfortunately we decided to jump into the market rather late and while we were learning about home buying and home loans, we discovered that the higher conforming loan limits are set to expire.

Congress needs to extend these limits to help people like Brian and I “realize the American dream” of owning our own home. We’re not looking for a handout, we intend to pull our fair share. If we have to save up for the full 20% to purchase the median priced home in the decent areas of San Francisco, that would be nearly $200k in cash. We can do that, but it will only delay our dream for several years.

Please help by submitting legislation to Congress to extend these conforming loan limits, stimulate the economy, which is already losing steam again amidst the European economic uncertainty. Your actions will have a huge impact in areas like San Francisco and for people like us. Please help us.

Thanks,

Erik & Brian Jones.

Why Can’t I own Canadians?

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant
Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus
18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man,
and posted on the Internet:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination … End of
debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are from neighboring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of Menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how
do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there
‘degrees’ of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go
to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family
affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I’m confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan.

James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia

PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn’t own a
Canadian)

It really gets me how hypocritical many of these extremely conservative bigots can be. In their eyes, God defines marriage as between a man and a woman and they often refer to homosexuals as deviants, yet their own morality is not only far from perfect, but downright dishonest.

For those who are unaware, Proposition 8 has removed my rights as a gay man to marry Brian, a meber of the same-sex.  The proposition has passed by fewer than 500,000 votes out of over 10 million votes counted (less than 2.5% win).

A twitter user I follow (@digitalkitty) posted this “cbs is reporting that prop 8 was swung by the raise in african american voters, 70 percent of whom voted yes.”  I responded with “it’s always been disappointing to me that African American citizens don’t draw parallels to the discrimination against gays.”

An African-American twitter user (@sistory) responded directly to me

“that a big can of worms you open right there.  why must there be a comparison to the discrimination of gays and african americans”

I responded to her:

“It doesn’t have to be.  We can disucss the differences AND the similarities and perhaps understand one another better.  There are similar circumstances.  Civil unions are “seperate but equal”.  I wouldn’t presume to say gays face all the same issues.”

I read more of her posts and don’t believe that she is among those who would have voted in favor of Proposition 8; however exit polls did show that African-Americans voted 2 to 1 in favor of banning marriage for gays (Yes on 8).  Here is an interesting article from a friend I work with: Proposition 8 vs. black homophobia .  There is a great quote by the African-American author of that article where she says:

Sadly, some African-Americans believe that it is only we who should benefit from the gains achieved by the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. They fear that to allow the gay community to enter the doors of opportunity opened by our struggle, to permit gays and lesbians to share in the fruits of that movement, will diminish those benefits for the black community. Truth is, there is more than enough to go around.

@Sistory in later tweets has suggested that if gays wanted to obtain more support that they should focus on comparing the Loving laws or Interracial marriage to the current battle for same-sex marriage.  And while I agree that there certainly are merrits to that argument, the fact remains that gay rights extends well beyond the issue of marriage.  (this is where she would tell me to narrow the argument and don’t bite off more than I can chew).

More later…

Here’s a great Youtube video in support of voting “No” on Proposition 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlxJJUtI7g4.

If you support Brian and I and our right to marry, please vote No on Prop 8.  Please advocate that your family and friends vote as well.  If you or anyone you know is not registered to vote, you still have until October 20th in Californai to register to vote.

Living under a rock?  Been out to sea?  Don’t know what Prop 8 is?  In short, Prop 8 is a constitutional ammendment that would ban same-sex marriage in California.  Unlike constitutional ammendments that come before the state congress and require 66%, it only requires a simple majority of the voters (50.000000001%). Every last vote counts!  The last pole by one conservative group showed that votes may be swinging to “Yes” in these final days.  Please please please donate your money, your time or your time of day to friends, families and organizations to help fight this injustice.

The ruling makes Connecticut the third state, after Massachusetts and California, to decide its constitution mandates treating citizens equally when applying for marriage licenses, regardless of their sexual orientation.

“Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice,” the ruling said.

Read the full story.