The United States is famed for the contrast between its socially conservative “bible belt” and the handful of bohemian pockets like San Francisco (to which Brighton is Britain’s more compact, slightly colder, and yet better alternative). It seems daft that one part of the country causally permits, or at least used to permit, public nudity whilst homosexuality or abortion is all but taboo in most others. Remember “Don’t ask, don’t tell”? But that’s America for you. But in a number of referenda held last month, several states voted in favour of progressive measures that show a fairer and a more realistic approach is being adopted by a considerable faction of the Republican movement (or rather, lack of movement) in addition to the tolerant Democrats. Maine, Maryland, and Washington all voted last month to introduce same-sex marriage, despite fierce opposition from many (but not all) religious groups. They join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, and Washington DC in taking this massive step towards equality. This leaves Britain in the arkward position of being behind the times, though legislation will be brought before Parliament in the new year. The US Supreme Court will shortly consider if the Defense of Marriage Act, a neanderthal-era law banning federal government recognition of same-sex marriage is in breach of the Constitution, and if so whether this means equal marriage must be enacted in the remaining 41 states. I’d like to think that we’ll end the week with the happy news that the Constitution rules out archaic discrimination of this kind. But it’s not only homosexuals who are being affected by this wave of social liberalisation. Washington has also voted to legalise ownership of an ounce of marijuana for personal use. Personally, I take the view that we are better off allowing the use of softer drugs, cleaning up supplies, removing the influence of criminal networks and eliminating the gateway effect. The War on Drugs has been nothing but an expensive failure. As with sex education, there is little point in advocating draconian measures to stop something that will happen anyway. Education, safety, and an informed approach is key. Hopefully Washington will become yet another example of the better alternative. A revolution is taking place in the US. Just ten years ago, would we have envisaged a black President, genuine equality for homosexuals, or a modern approach to drug consumption? Imagine what could be achieved in another decade.
