In the top half of this letter, we have an example of a voluntary decision that honors the principle of personal responsibility. There is NOTHING stopping people and businesses everywhere from doing things like this right now. Proof that the market can be a powerful weapon for change!!
The bottom half, on the other hand, is NOT VOLUNTARY, and I wonder how many people who wish corporations like Hobby Lobby would stay out reproductive choice will suddenly find themselves celebrating the speech of this corporate “person” when it favors their political narrative.
I support DICK’S Sporting Goods decision to lead by example on voluntary reforms that honor freedom of choice. They have every right to stock their shelves however, and set any criteria they want for purchase. But spinning their act as an example for government to follow is dangerous.
The government doesn’t operate by choice, it operates by coercion, and conflating the two is really the primary error in reasoning that is fueling everything terrifying about the modern imperial police state. I don’t want people like Donald Trump empowered to restrict my rights by force.
You shouldn’t want that, either.
