ENDA Vote in the Senate Today

[amZo]

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/04/a_possible_solution_to_the_enda_equation.php

[KabitTarah]

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/04/a_possible_solution_to_the_enda_equation.php

This economic method works well for economic issues, for example: green standards that go above mandated standards. When it comes to bigotry, people willingly throw money away to enforce their stance on issues of hate. Take, for example, Barilla Pasta, Chick Fil A, and others like them. They do nothing wrong under the writ of free speech, but they do social wrongs that hurt them directly. If either CEO kept their mouth shut they'd have the LGBT+ population buying their products. They use hate speech (in the form of policy, but hate nonetheless) to express their homophobia.

Economic theory cannot replace human rights legislation.

[JenSquid]

A shame the religious liberty amendment failed. This isn't getting through the House unless it respects the wishes of the Other Half as much as its own target audience.

That said, it doesn't seem like respect is high on the Dem Senate's list of goals with this. This seems more like forcing change than reaching common ground.

Well, to be fair, ever since the Tea Party got hold of the Republican party, the Republicans have refused to negotiate on much of anything. Good faith efforts to reach a deal have not been met with reasonable counter-offers, but with hyperbole and demagoguery. For example, when pushing for badly needed healthcare reform, the president could have listened to his base and gone with a more efficient single-payer system. He didn't, instead choosing to go with a system originally written by the Republicans as an alternative to the system his base wanted, that, frankly, tends to trip over itself trying avoid stepping on toes. And the response? Hyperbole about death panels followed by repeated attempts to shut down the government. Given that sort of environment, I can't blame the Democrats for not even trying to cross the aisle. You can't work with someone acting in bad faith: you just have to go around them. Extreme behavior breeds extreme behavior, ya know.

The religious amendment is primarily canard. They would still be hostile to the ENDA Bill if it existed and did not even describe a group. They very much support the fire anyone for any reason business practice. It matters little that religion or TS people or gay people are involved.

It's so funny that they care about the "money to small business" side of it...

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/11/06/study-discrimination-costs-64-billion-every-year

So... what now, Congress?? Oh... it's just a "study" and you don't believe in "theories." -- Bigots will always have an excuse.

It's not about costs so much as power. Our elites resent being told they have to treat anyone with respect, and will fight tooth and nail, even against their own interests, to make sure their power remains unchecked and unchallenged. The thing is, they know that if they couch their argument in religious terms, they can easily round up an army of zealots to fight for them. Thus all the nonsense about "threat to religious liberty." Honestly, I'd argue not having protections to be a bigger threat to liberty. By telling me I must adhere to the tenets of a religion I might not follow, or I'll lose my job, my freedom to choose my faith without coercion is infringed upon.

[LordKAT]

This was my point in another thread. Unfortunately, I'm not good at expressing my thoughts into words as well as many of you.

" Honestly, I'd argue not having protections to be a bigger threat to liberty. By telling me I must adhere to the tenets of a religion I might not follow, or I'll lose my job, my freedom to choose my faith without coercion is infringed upon.

[KabitTarah]

This was my point in another thread. Unfortunately, I'm not good at expressing my thoughts into words as well as many of you.

♥ your words are important!

Religious freedom is what this country, and especially my state, was built on. Unfortunately that freedom was for Christians being free from the Catholic state... and some of those Christians (and the original Catholics) would like to see their rights placed above the rights of others... sound familiar?

Yes. We're dealing with religious privilege... for all these particular Christians think they're oppressed, it's quite the opposite. In my area the Catholics feel the same way - and there are a ton of them (hey - I'm one... or was, at least).

I'm also not attacking Christianity. The tenets are good. The inclusive, accepting Christian groups are among the best people in the country... but a lot is done politically in the name of Christianity that are directly opposite to the true teachings of their religion (not to mention directly opposite to The Constitution). It blows my mind that a religion based on the love of others, despite their differences, can be the source of so much hate.

Here's a tweet I sent Nov 3:
"Sameness is most important, ostracize those who are different, and for god's sake stay away from the lepers." - 11:3 Nowhere in the Bible