Via Feministing.
Apparently, in the city of Black Jack, you must conform to a specific standard of “family” or you’ll be run out of town. According to a CBS News article, city council members in the Missouri town have “rejected a measure allowing unmarried couples with multiple children to live together. The mayor said those who fall into that category could soon face eviction.” The couple has three children in common, yet the city council refuses to grant them permission to live together. Since when is the government in charge of telling folks what forms their families must take? Since when is it appropriate to force families to choose between housing and staying together?
This bit made me laugh (It’s funny, cuz it’s true!):
In the statement, McCourt said, “the city provides information about its occupancy permit requirements to anyone who requests it. … As mayor, I am required by state law to uphold the laws of the city of Black Jack.”
Mr. McCourt is apparently familiar with his Douglas Adams:
‘But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months.’
‘Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn’t exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anybody or anything.’
‘But the plans were on display …’
‘On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.’
‘That’s the display department.’
‘With a torch.’
‘Ah, well the lights had probably gone.’
‘So had the stairs.’
‘But look, you found the notice didn’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said Arthur, ‘yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying Beware of the Leopard.’ A cloud passed overhead. It cast a shadow over Arthur Dent as he lay propped up on his elbow in the cold mud. It cast a shadow over Arthur Dent’s house. Mr Prosser frowned at it. ‘It’s not as if it’s a particularly nice house,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, but I happen to like it.’ ‘You’ll like the bypass.’ ‘Oh shut up,’ said Arthur Dent. ‘Shut up and go away, and take your bloody bypass with you. You haven’t got a leg to stand on and you know it.
red paper boat 