Government's role is that actually that of conflict resolution, but it's become far more than it should be at this point.
Our federal government is based upon majority rule in a representative format. Because it is majority rule, the founding fathers saw need to insert a few amendments - the Bill of Rights - that listed the personal freedoms that majority could not take away. They also specifically mentioned the fact that any right NOT so listed in the Constitution is up to the states. This includes acts that may or may not be considered moral - sodomy, age of consent, the right of euthanasia. Because these acts are not specifically listed in the Constitution, it is up to local governments to determine the legality. When moral issues become a national matter, they also allowed for adding more amendments, with majority rule. Notice that I keep saying majority rule. If you have an issue that your government disagrees with you on, you'd best get an amendment. The system allows the majority of the people in the country to live as they see fit - isn't this why the government was formed? The individual liberties that were pressing in 1789 - free speech, right of religion, due process of law - were accounted for. The fact that they were given does NOT mean that you get to do anything you want to do. If you want gay marriage across the US, you need to get an amendment - that way, the majority of Americans have approved it and will live with it. If you can't get one, you're up the creek without a paddle - the majority of Americans don't think it's something they want to live with. Is it fair? Sure, the most people get things their way. Is it equal? No, it's not designed to be. Does it allow for local rule? Yes - a state can allow for gay marriage. Actually, this is the most fair way to be - a local government can determine whether or not a law is good for its citizens. You don't have to agree with me, that's fine too. But the fact that local citizens can determine the laws that work best for their community is most fair to me, even if it means that I can't do something I'd like to do, even if it doesn't affect anyone but me. I'd love to burn a pile of leaves in my back yard, but the local government doesn't allow me to do this. I can fight it, but their views are one way, mine the other. However, I know that they can't take away my right to say what I want - that's a liberty granted to me by the federal government. This is representative government - allowing the majority to rule but giving the minority certain liberties which may not be taken away. - MS -----Original Message----- From: William Bowen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 1:45 PM To: CF-Community Subject: Re: I'm surrounded! +1 > The translation of this is: law = morality ..... > Normally people who think this way are called theocrats, but somehow > this perversion of morality has become acceptable to right-wing > Republicans. > > And who's morality do they think government should impose? Obviously > Christian morality. > > But what does that, in fact, teach our kids? That government's role > is to persecute others based on an arbitrary view of morality. If > they don't do what you do, persecute them. Make their private > behavior illegal. Subjugate them. Government knows best. > > I sure as hell don't want my kids thinking government knows best! > > Government's role is to protect liberty and guarantee personal > freedoms - not take it away! > -- will "If my life weren't funny, it would just be true; and that would just be unacceptable." - Carrie Fisher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:180664 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
