I must say, I found this funny. A political argument I hadn't heard before. Something new under the sun.

Yes, indeed, there is something to keeping progressives busy with something you actually agree with.

Harmless political bread and circuses? Is that your justification for monarchy as well?

As for your thoughts on marriage and politics, I have some sympathy. If they were arguing to end government preferences for the married, and interference in personal marriage contracts, I'd be more enthusiastic.

But as is usually the case, I find liberals wrong even when they're right. While I'd prefer that homosexuals have equal rights, I can't agree that the political movement for homosexual marriage is about equal rights at all. It's about expanding the membership qualifications to a legally privileged class based on lifestyle choice - the married. Not being married, it's hard to get all excited about ensuring that others enjoy legal privileges that they wouldn't extend to me based on our different lifestyle choices.