President Obama Promotes Equal Rights for Same-sex Couples

In the article, "Obama Claims 14th Amendment Requires Nationalized Same-sex Marriage," (Link to article) it states that President Obama recently approved of the Supreme Court's decision to not hear appeals from circuit courts on the issue of the legalization of same-sex marriage in several states. This is because he agrees with the Supreme Court that state laws against same-sex marriage violate the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment. He told the New Yorker last month that the fourteenth amendment should actually guarantee the legalization of same-sex marriage in all states which seems to be the opinion of the Supreme Court as well.

The fact that the Supreme Court is now considering the legality of same-sex marriage as guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment indicates that legal same-sex marriage will become much more common in the United States in the years to come. This could potentially change a lot of people's views on whether same-sex marriage should be legal since the President now endorses it. I think that while there are several different religious beliefs and opinions that are against same-sex marriage, on a purely constitutional level, it should be legal. State governments should not be able to deny someone's right to be married based on a person's sexual orientation. It is nice to see that the President also believes this to be true, and is speaking up about it.

Minimum Wage Initiatives Win Big in Several States

In the article, "Minimum wage increases in four red states," (Link to Article) it states that in the Republican states of Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Alaska the initiatives to raise the minimum wage passed. These four victories might not persuade Congress to pass Obama's proposed federal increase of $10.10 this year, but it could push the Democrat presidential nominee in 2016 to call for an increased federal minimum wage. Alaska workers benefit the most from this increase, for their minimum wage went to $9.75. Nebraska's increased to $9.00 and both Arkansas and South Dakota's minimum wages increased to $8.50.

This could potentially cause many changes to the economy of South Dakota along with all the other states that increased their minimum wages. Many are worried that this increase could result in layoffs and decreased opportunities for jobs in South Dakota. This could also possibly cause businesses to have to shut down. On the bright side, though, hard workers in all of these states will be rewarded and be able to enjoy a higher standard of living. I think that this initiative has both good and bad sides to it. I know that I will definitely enjoy being paid more when this goes into effect, but I also know that it could potentially harm the economy. Hopefully the positive aspects of the increased minimum wage will outweigh the possible negative side-effects.