There are all kinds of freedoms, but some folks only want the freedom to take freedom away from others. This comic is from Ellen Woodbury at Pizza Cake Comics. (via reddit)
So all agree with the Court decision regarding the person who chose not to create a wedding website for a gay couple? Or is that not the freedom referred to here? Should the government force a person to create something against their wishes, such as a cake or a website? Should the government decide you can't have a gas stove, a brick oven pizza, a drag queen read-to-the-kids event, buy a gas-engine car after 2035, restrict children's access to books with depictions of sex, ban gender affirming surgery for your minor children, what criteria you use to determine who gets admitted to college?
"So all agree with the Court decision regarding the person who chose not to create a wedding website for a gay couple?" The First Amendment grants the right to practice your religion. But there is no constitutional right to run a business. If you can't serve the public equally and fairly, you have no business running a business that's open to the public. You can still practice your religion. No one is forcing you to give up that right.
You don't go to any store with the thought that they sell every product. If you can't get what you want at Walmart you go to Target.How come this Web Designer or Baker is supposed to carry every product if they don't carry what you want go somewhere else. What the comic illustrates above three people who think they can't do something if everyone doesn't celebrate their decisions.
"The First Amendment grants the right to practice your religion"
The First Amendment "grants" nothing. It makes clear that you have the right to practice a religion or not practice a religion, free from government interference. The government cannot force a religion on you, nor can it prevent you from practicing a religion.
1A also makes it clear that you have the right to express yourself without interference from the government. The right to do something also means you have the right not to do it. That is known as freedom. One would think that a libertarian would understand freedom.
(I will add that no right is absolute, obviously. According to 1A, I have the right to burn a US flag, but I can't burn your flag nor can I burn my flag on private property.)
It seems to me that the case in question is a fantastic opportunity to show freedom in action. Lots of other website creators could advertise that they are happy to make a wedding website for gay couples, maybe even offer a discount or free services. They could even partner with a bakery to make wedding cakes for same sex marriages. Capitalism and freedom...
As an aside, you do have the right to own a business in the USA, though the federal and state governments have enacted a myriad of hoops to jump through in many cases. Similar to 2A
This is so true. The term Libertarian has been co-opted by the fascists and no longer stands for freedom of and responsibility for one's actions.
ReplyDeleteToo true, alas.
ReplyDeleteSo all agree with the Court decision regarding the person who chose not to create a wedding website for a gay couple? Or is that not the freedom referred to here? Should the government force a person to create something against their wishes, such as a cake or a website? Should the government decide you can't have a gas stove, a brick oven pizza, a drag queen read-to-the-kids event, buy a gas-engine car after 2035, restrict children's access to books with depictions of sex, ban gender affirming surgery for your minor children, what criteria you use to determine who gets admitted to college?
ReplyDeleteNeither right nor left is in any way libertarian.
There's freedom, and then there's free-dumb. I leave it to you to decide which one MAGUH espouses.
ReplyDelete-"BB"-
BB-yeah, that's the way freedom works, personal decisions. Not sure what the pejoratives add to the discussion, but that is also freedom.
ReplyDelete"So all agree with the Court decision regarding the person who chose not to create a wedding website for a gay couple?" The First Amendment grants the right to practice your religion. But there is no constitutional right to run a business. If you can't serve the public equally and fairly, you have no business running a business that's open to the public. You can still practice your religion. No one is forcing you to give up that right.
ReplyDeleteYou don't go to any store with the thought that they sell every product. If you can't get what you want at Walmart you go to Target.How come this Web Designer or Baker is supposed to carry every product if they don't carry what you want go somewhere else. What the comic illustrates above three people who think they can't do something if everyone doesn't celebrate their decisions.
ReplyDelete"The First Amendment grants the right to practice your religion"
ReplyDeleteThe First Amendment "grants" nothing. It makes clear that you have the right to practice a religion or not practice a religion, free from government interference. The government cannot force a religion on you, nor can it prevent you from practicing a religion.
1A also makes it clear that you have the right to express yourself without interference from the government. The right to do something also means you have the right not to do it. That is known as freedom. One would think that a libertarian would understand freedom.
(I will add that no right is absolute, obviously. According to 1A, I have the right to burn a US flag, but I can't burn your flag nor can I burn my flag on private property.)
It seems to me that the case in question is a fantastic opportunity to show freedom in action. Lots of other website creators could advertise that they are happy to make a wedding website for gay couples, maybe even offer a discount or free services. They could even partner with a bakery to make wedding cakes for same sex marriages. Capitalism and freedom...
As an aside, you do have the right to own a business in the USA, though the federal and state governments have enacted a myriad of hoops to jump through in many cases. Similar to 2A