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This, about the Sexual Orientation Regulations, made me really sad. All the examples the opponents of the bill gave, like hoteliers liable to prosecution for refusing a double room to a gay couple, were things that I thought "But that's what I would want to happen!". I think I may be a lefty pinko liberal.
On the other hand, this, about a new random radio station launching in Oxford, sounds quite interesting
On the other hand, this, about a new random radio station launching in Oxford, sounds quite interesting
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Date: January 9th, 2007 04:04 pm (UTC)From:Morally, I'd be more comfortable with that. That way everyone knows where they stand and, for example, I could also choose to deliberately withhold my custom even though I personally would be unlikely to be discriminated against (although you never know - possibly he wouldn't like the look of little perky girls :) ). Legally, I have no idea if you're allowed to do that or not.
The principle seems simply enough. What worries me is how this permissible method can evolve to the next stage of organisation (sorry, no gays/blacks/muslims/Hindus/etc. in this district, because all hotels here have made a collaborative decision). Welcome apartheid, friends.
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Date: January 9th, 2007 04:13 pm (UTC)From:In the case of majority prejudices, it's much less workable. It also puts one in a tricky position democratically - should a government legislate against a majority opinion? You can (and I would) argue that they still have an obligation to govern for all of the electorate so in the case of things like discrimination then yes, but it's definitely something you have to be careful with.
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Date: January 9th, 2007 04:15 pm (UTC)From:"We are (all) only doing as well as the least of us."
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Date: January 10th, 2007 10:15 pm (UTC)From:I personally prefer this system to a democracy. Yes, those protections can be whittled away, and the founding fathers were worried about that. But if you can keep a system of protections in place that allow for reasonable levels of freedom and fairness, then I think it's a better system than just the majority getting whatever it wants.