Today's post is inspired by the "Sensible Centrists" who have been popping up across the blogosphere. To the Brendan Nyhans, the Jennifer Seniors, the Marty Peretzes and especially the Lee Siegels of the world, this is for you.

Now, let us travel back in time 230 years, to a turning point in this country's history. And there, jotting away, is the Sensible Centrist of his day...

Gay Marriage: The sensible solution to this issue is for the Federal government to stay out of it. The states should provide full legal rights to gay couples in a committed relationship, but it need not be called "marriage". Civil union should be an equivalent legal bond between these individuals. Churches, of course, can continue to define marriage as a "sacrament" uniting a man and woman.  The government should actually define a committed relationship between opposite sexes as a civil union as well...and leave the religious argument about marriage to the churches to decide!