Stupidest Shithole in America: Arizona

By Michael J.W. Stickings
 
There are many, many shitholes all across America -- like Nelson, Georgia; Mississippi; Dietrich, Idaho; Burkesville, Kentucky; Pickens County, South Carolina; Henderson, Texas; and Evergreen, Alabama.

Well... not really.

 You'll notice one state on that list. Here's another: Arizona. 

The Arizona legislature sent a bill to the Gov. Jan Brewer's desk Thursday that would carve a massive hole into state law allowing business owners to turn away gay and lesbian customers, employers to deny equal pay to women, or individuals to renege on contract obligations -- as long as they claim to be doing so in the name of religion.

Brewer, a Republican who vetoed similar legislation last year, has not said whether she will sign the bill. Ann Dockendorff, a spokesperson for the governor's office, said in a statement that "It is the governor's policy to not comment on legislation until she’s had a chance to review it. Monday would be the earliest she would take action, assuming it's transmitted by the Senate by then. She'll have five days to act once she receives it."

When even right-wing Republican extremist Jan Brewer is relatively sensible when compared to your legislators, you know you live in a crazy shithole of a state.

And remember, this is also the state that, among other right-wing things, has implemented draconian immigration and abortion laws, the state that banned ethnic studies courses, just another example of how it's targeting Latinos and other non-whites. One could go on and on.

In targeting gays, lesbians, woman, and anyone else anyone doesn't like with newfangled Jim Crow laws that would authorize segregation in the name of phony "religious freedom," Arizona isn't alone. Republicans in numerous other states are pursuing similar measures. But Arizona always seems to be at the forefront in embracing bigotry and enshrining bigotry in its legal code.