Same-sex marriage good for economy and wedding crashers

Remember when African Americans couldn't drink from the same drinking fountains as whites? Remember when gay people couldn't get married? Both scenarios sound so ridiculous.

Especially when you think about how much money is to be gained if same-sex couples are legally allowed to get married. Just look at the figures broken down by Conde Nast Portfolio.com:

The [Williams Institute at the U.C.L.A. School of Law] thinks same-sex marriage should generate 2,200 jobs in California, bring in $8 million in marriage-license fees, and increase sales and occupancy tax revenues by $55 million. A 2005 study showed that if same-sex marriage was legalized nationally, the wedding industry could generate another $2 billion annually."

Robert Longley did the research for About.com and found, "Based on the responses to Census 2000, [the U.S. Congressional Budget Office] estimated that nearly 600,000 same-sex couples nationwide would get married if they had the opportunity, and that those 600,000 newly married couples would pay up to an additional $700 million a year, mainly in income and estate taxes."

And U.S. News says the wedding industry stands to gain $16 billion annually if same-sex marriages are legalized across the union.

Wowzers! Sign them up! Given that California is about to break off into the Pacific Ocean from the sheer size of its budget crisis, it makes fiscal sense to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Literally overnight wedding businesses would enjoy a major boost. When times are this bad, don't you just want to celebrate? If gay marriage were legalized, I would fly over to California so fast and see how many weddings I could crash in a week, until I forgot the name Bernie Madoff. Let the good times roll!