I am not bashing Libertarianism as I agree with most of the Party's points, but I can not become a member without resolving the civil rights issue. First off, I want to say that no Libertarian believes that virtue can be enforced at gunpoint. Why others thing that virtuous people want to hold th gun, I'll never understand. It seems that that those who *want* to wield the right to use violence are the very same people who shouldn't be given that right under any circumstance. There may be instances where it seems like a good thing, but when you give people the right to enforce morality at gunpoint, they will begin to inject whatever morality appeals to them. Let the wrong people get into power, and soon they may be using that power to be virtuous against a class of citizens that they dont like. In fact, many for the anti-racism laws today simply keep racism alive by forcing us to focus on it so much through new and more devious government quotas and systems and through the media blaring of people constantly claiming victimhood. Theres a good article on that subject by David Bernstein at Cato: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2528. Theres also the issue of how it will be harder to find jobs online because of more government quotas: http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/06/news/economy/annie/annie_0206/index.htm?cnn So, what way can we enforce virtue without the threat of physical aggression? Well the answer really is private action. We need to be aware of racism when it really exists and go after those businesses or people who are racist and shun them. This is the same attitude we should take on any moral issue where there is no physical harm caused by one party against another. It is all of our responsibility to enforce by peaceful action those morals we deem important. If you believe, as I do, that racism is wrong, then you should not tolerate it by bringing your custom to businesses that practice it or by letting your friends and acquaintances say racist things in your presence. If a small town restaurant doesnt want to serve African-Americans, is it worth the cost of forcing them to do so? The regulations behind our so-called civil rights are immense. The business I won with my wife will serve anyone and indeed has a very diverse clientele. My wife does therapeutic and medical massage and occasionally someone will call or come in after normal hours seeking a massage that is normally provided by a business with a red light in its window, she will refuse and tell the person never to come back. If that person is not of her, or one of our contractors, race, then the rejected customer could bring a lawsuit against our business for racism. Of course, it wouldnt be racism, but wed be forced to hire an expensive lawyer, document all of our clients (be careful not to violate the stringent and complex HIPAA rules) races, and lose a great deal of time and effort going to court. Do you really think that is a good thing just so some restaurant cant remain all white or all black or all Hispanic if that is what it chooses to be? Every day millions of dollars are being eaten up by the lawsuits, many of them frivolous or a way to make money for the supposed victim (we see the same thing happen often with disabilities and injuries in business.) Being a victim is good business in our regulated environment. Also, I wonder how strongly do you believe in the First Amendment. I suppose free speech is important to you, right? Well, what about the freedom of association? Is that not as important, or are some rights less inherent or more rightfully trampled by government intervention? A person should be free to associate, in his or her property or business, with whomever he or she pleases. Some people will choose not to associate with members of another race. I choose not to associate with racists. Cory
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