[alexqgb]

Sure, but even the open web has some basic ground rules. What what special about Prop. 8 (as opposed to virtually any other issue) is that it represented a direct attack on the 14th Amendment - which is one of the basic pillars of our democracy.

For any flourishing society, a broad spectrum of opinion is vital. But when you start attacking the underlying system that make that open society possible in the first place, you've crossed a bright and shining line.

After all, not everything is up for debate. Indeed, that's the whole point of having constitutionally protected rights. People are comfortable with the back and forth of democratic rule if - and only if - they know that their fundamental human rights and basic legal equality are beyond the reach of public debate.

Put that in play, and all bets are off.