Friday, July 27, 2012

I absolutely agree with Greenwald on this

I certainly have no qualms about calling out Chick-Fil-A for being bigots and calling for and taking part in boycotts against them.

But when governments -- local, state, national -- start saying that because of the exercise of those beliefs they will prevent Chick-Fil-A from opening a store what have you -- especially if there's no evidence they will not serve gays and lesbians or hire them [in certain places where that is illegal] (because then it becomes a different sort of violation to other person's rights)  -- no matter how I feel I think that is blatantly wrong (and illegal).  It is textbook for what the First Amendment is.

For example Amazon just made a big donation to assist the pro-gay marriage movement in Washington state -- would a Republican mayor or governor be allowed to attempt to punish them in the same way?

Sure, Chick-Fil-A is run by assholes -- they suck-- have at it anyone BUT government to punish them by boycotting them or calling them what they are, but the government cannot.  That's what makes the First Amendment awesome.

4 comments:

pansypoo said...

how do you know they serve teh gays?

gratuitous said...

I have to disagree; the First Amendment in my copy of the Constitution specifically proscribes certain actions by Congress. Last time I checked, local and state governments aren't Congress.

Presumably, this is related to free speech, and not peaceable assembly, state establishment of religion or petitioning the government for redress. The head honcho at Chick-Fil-A can continue to say any stupid thing that occurs to him; but he doesn't have some First Amendment right to siting a store in prime retail space. His free speech rights aren't abridged at all by Boston or Chicago or any other locality deciding they don't want to let retail space to Chick-Fil-A.

Montag said...

I'm all in favor of them building expensive stores in expensive locations and then picketing the shit out of them until they give up.

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