blake wrote:

> my understanding is that it's not as easy to amend the constitution
> in iowa as it is in, say, california:

Correct; it's not NEARLY as easy as putting it to the voters, the way it
happened in California. The amendment effort is almost certain to fail, and
it cannot even be put to the test until 2012. Maybe once it fails, Iowans
will come to accept same-sex marriage. But even if that happens, I don't
think it will make Iowa any more attractive as a place to live. (And I say
that even though both of my parents grew up in Iowa, and most of my
relatives still live there.) But it could certainly provide an unexpected
and welcome source of revenue for the state.

Bob