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What a week for the US – Democracy it her best

For people follow US Washington politics and haveprogressive views, this past week has  been huge.

First , Congress passed the TransPacificPartner (TPP) on international trade and gave President Obama what he wanted in trade agreements with Asia despite objections from some parts of his own party. This is truly bipartisan legislation and not political gridlock.

Second, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare,   the President’s signature legislation and legacy, for the second time  which brought  universal health care to the US in line with other developed nations of the world.

Third, the Supreme Court upheld a wider interpretation of the Fair Housing Act  which  forbids even unintentional discrimination.

Fourth, same sex marriage is now legal in 14 States that still held out against  such  marriages so that everyone in the entire country is equal before the law  regardless of  sexual orientations. Majority of Americans already prefer such equality but  die-hard conservatives wish to adhere to the religious view that only  marriage between a man and a woman is legal.

I can hardly remember a week in which so many momentous events on social issues  are  decided and accepted by the population in a democratic way. Being a liberal, I  am  of course happy with the results. But I am even happier that these events  demonstrated that  democracy is still alive and well and that the check-and-balance system of government  in the US worked.