Rand Paul Wants To Abolish The Americans With Disabilities Act!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Of course he does. It doesn't reflect well on him, but he's made no attempt to hide what he is.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

OMG freedom, how scary!!!1

No, defining "freedom" as being able to legally discriminate against the disabled---that's scary.

That is the definition of freedom. You people want to re-define it to mean something other than true freedom.

So 'true freedom' is the right to discriminate against the disabled without fear of penalty. Fascinating.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No, freedom is the right to run a business without fear of being threatened with government guns because you didn't bankrupt yourself trying to conform to ridiculous nonsensical regulations.

How many businesses have become bankrupt as a result of legislation banning discrimination against the disabled?

As to you wider point; why, exactly, should the 'right' for a business to do whatever it wants be placed above the right for all people to be treated equally and with dignity?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The idea that people wouldn't think discrimination is evil without government intervention is frankly insulting to my intelligence.

Well, that's lucky, isn't it.

The issue isn't what people think. The issue is enforcement. Only the state (in one form or other) has the power to enforce public disgust against certain practices in a way that doesn't cause serious damage to social order.

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That sounds nice and all, but is utterly meaningless.

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I think you'll find that when discrimination against the disabled (and countless other minorities) was legal, incidents of such boycotts and pickets were somewhat on the rare side.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Someone (Al, Badger, anyone) tell me how it was legal to discriminate before ADA?

I don't know the details of US legislation on disability. But the concept of rights for the disabled is a new one in most countries and didn't come about as easily as it'd be nice to think.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If you'll forgive the bad pun, there may be a gold mine waiting for Conway in certain parts of the state if he has the sense to press Paul on whether he thinks Massey Energy should similarly be free to make its own decisions about mine safety.

If he has any sense he'll bring that up, yeah.