That’s the real issue raised by this “controversial” legislation in New Hampshire:
CONCORD, N.H.—Florists, caterers and other wedding-related businesses could turn away engaged gay couples under legislation before the House that opponents likened to segregation and Nazi Germany's race laws.
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the bill, which would allow providers of wedding-related goods or services to withhold those services if they believe doing business with gay couples would violate their conscience or religious faith. The bill also would bar lawsuits against business owners in such situations.
As expected, this legislation has sparked an astonishingly stupid conversation equating letting business owners choose how to run their own businesses to “Nazi Germany.” If you honestly believe that Hitler supported individual freedom and leaving business owners to run their own affairs, you need to read a book. ANY book.
The hand-wringers horrified by this law keep confusing “what the law allows” with “what is good.” (And these people are complaining about fascism!)
The most fundamental premise of a free society is that people are free to do things most of us don’t like. If you’re only free to act in ways approved by your neighbors, then you have no freedom. You just have permission.
Is discriminating against gay customers stupid? I think so. That’s why I wouldn’t do it. In fact, it’s so stupid I wouldn’t hire someone who does it.
But so what? What difference does it make what you and I think? The only relevant question in this case is “Where did you get the right to force a business owner to do business with people he doesn’t want to do business with?”
It’s his business. He pays the bills, the taxes, the mortgage, the licensing fees, etc. You want to tell him how he should run that business? Fine. Then you start paying his bills.
All the NH legislation does is give business owners permission to be stupid. If you’re serious about outlawing stupidity, our jails will be full in no time.
"The truth is something [Warren] probably prefers not to confront. Harvard doesn’t come calling just because you’re a smart lawyer and a terrific teacher — not with Warren’s modest, Oklahoma upbringing and non-Ivy League education. She is not your typical Harvard professor. At a certain point, when the law school was under pressure to promote diversity, she represented a three-fer: a great lawyer with a national profile, a woman, and a minority, at least by virtue of family lore. "
-- Joan Vennochi
