MA, CT, IA, VT, ME ....

What do these five states have in common? A MYODB tradition and ethic. Keep your nose out of my personal business and I'll keep mine out of yours and everybody will get along just fine. And an apparent immunity to the hateful insanity of what passes for the modern GOP.

Maine is now the fifth state to approve marriage equality. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Iowa did so through the courts, and Maine joins Vermont as the two states to approve gay marriage through the legislative process.

Four of New England's six states now allow gay marriage, which suggests to me that New Hampshire and Rhode Island really need to get on the ball.

As the right continues to lose these fights, the defeats in Vermont and Maine have to be especially difficult. Conservatives had argued that marriage equality lacked legal legitimacy because it was being "forced" through the courts. That argument disappears when state lawmakers choose to pass these laws, not because of an order from a judge, but because they realize it's the right thing to do.

The debate has shifted -- politically, legally, culturally, morally. The number of Americans who would deny the right to marry to consenting adults is shrinking -- quickly. Social norms relating to respect and equality for all are experiencing a sea change, and the old way simply isn't coming back.

It's a development Americans can be proud of. Kudos, Maine.

Talking Points Memo has a terrific slide show of the March Toward Marriage.

Remember back in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell? And nations that had struggled under Soviet control for 40 years started breaking free, each one more quickly than the last. At the time, someone described the progression of independence this way: "It took Poland ten years, East Germany ten months, Chechoslovakia ten weeks, Hungary 10 days and Romania 10 hours."

From Stonewall to Vermont's civil unions took 30 years. From Vermont to Massachusetts four years. From Massachusetts to Connecticut five years (California's one step forward two steps back in between.) From Connecticut to Iowa six months. From Iowa to Vermont full marriage equality four days. And from Vermont to Maine four weeks.

The bus is taking off, and the last states to get on board on going to reap the negative economic consequences for generations.

Cross-posted at They Gave Us A Republic ....