The right to privacy is guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment X: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Please, let me be clear. I do not want the government interfering in my life. I don't trust the government. On a national level, the current government is made up of thieves, thugs and murderers. Representative democracy is a horrible form of government. It allows the most opportunistic and cynical access to power, but it's a lot better than anything else. If we must have government, then we should have a government in which we all share power and responsibility. On a personal note, if I may be forgiven a brief reverie, in 1975 I authored the amendment to the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual preference. This was the first of its kind in Minnesota and the first in a major city in the country. It is obvious today that any employment or housing practice that discriminates against glbt people is an unconscionable violation of privacy. I cite this to show I believe in the extension of the rights of privacy. The ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces is not a violation of someone's privacy, it is an attempt to protect the public health. Ed Felien Powderhorn REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
