In response to the OP, businesses can discriminate for specific reasons as long as those reasons [Say, cash only,] do not violate the laws of the federal, state and city governments which apply. Next question? Regards, stay safe 'n well 'n remember the Big 5.
In a perfect world, yes, at least that's what the hardcore libertarian inside of me says. The more flexible one wonders if we're quite ready for that. The reality is, the overwhelming majority of people would not do so even if they could, because the only color most business owners (at least good ones) care about it green. But this thread, like so many others, has nothing to do with the title you used, or even the subject you broached. It's yet another thread cleverly designed to be about the upcoming Roe decision, and the dominoes that exist (in your heads, anyway) as a result. But here's the thing. Even if Roe is overturned, you'll still be able to get gay married, you'll still be able to marry outside your race, you'll still find condoms and other forms of birth control at the corner drug store, "colored only" water fountains won't be returning, if you are a member of the groups you mentioned, you'll still be able to buy gas, food, and go out for a night at the movies, and slavery won't be making a comeback either. Y'all have absolutely lost your minds over this, and it's both amusing but also sad to watch. Now that is a neat trick. You can actually read people's dreams??? What do you do, put your hands on their faces like Mr. Spock and do the mind-meld trick to become a voluntary participant in their dreams. Would you do me a favor and teach me how to do that, it really sounds like a lot of fun, and I don't remember that many of my own dreams, so that would be nifty. A good party trick, too!
It would seem that a free person should be able to chose not to do business in any circumstance they wish. While some reasons for doing that may be more justifiable than others, most are not allowed under law. The idea we can engineer social acceptance with laws is of course false; you don't change people's view of others by force. If you use force, you also breed resentment rather than compatibility, so I doubt there is any answer here that is not problematic one way or another. Personally, I would be inclined to "ban" people for bad conduct, damages, problems, not race or nationality. So I do think you should have some right to ban individuals, because conduct is usually individual. Not the same, I know. Whether or not people have the right to ban others might be declared by a law, but that is superficial in the concepts of discrimination. It's also kind of double standard too- any of those groups who must be allowed by law to enter are free to boycott, to prevent others from entering. For example if you are the jew running the gas station, and the neighborhood mindset does not think you are acceptable- you will be out of business, and no law can make those people come to your business even if the reason is totally discrimination. In other words- the primary race or religion or common group in a neighborhood can ban you, but you cannot ban them. Food for thought...
Does not really answer the question in the OP. It asks should discrimination be legal not IS it legal
Hi, Soupnazi. Thank you for taking time to reply to my comment. The question, "Should discrimination be legal?" lacks the nuance which is needed for an answer. It is the same as asking "Should freedom be permitted?" or perhaps "Is igniting something OK?" The society we are a part of is complex. Simple questions, and to a far greater extent, simple answers to societal questions, should be questioned. Regards, stay safe 'n well 'n remember the Big 5.