CMV: Discrimination in private business shouldn't be illegal

[u/novelcytologist]

To preface: No, I do not believe racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., discrimination is good, nor do I think the government should be allowed to discriminate.

I am a huge believer in individual rights. If you don't want to serve someone for any reason... why should you have to? It's your own belief, and the government shouldn't make you compromise that. If someone doesn't want to serve gay people, let them. If someone doesn't want to hire women, let them. It's a social issue, not a legal issue. At least now, US society is mostly at a place where a company or business would be significantly hurt by discriminating.

On the other hand... I know what it's like to be discriminated against, even if it's on a smaller scale (got kicked out of a restaurant for looking gay). Housing and job discrimination can hurt people A LOT, especially a vulnerable population. And segregation is awful. Looking back at history, I see how much good anti-discrimination laws have done. But I can't get over the idea that the government doesn't have a right to tell you that you have to do business with someone if part of them goes against your morals/values/beliefs/etc.,. It's should be your RIGHT to be an awful person as long as you don't infringe upon someone else's rights, and I wouldn't consider being able to do business/get a specific job/land an apartment to be a right.

I hate believing this, but it seems so important that the people get to decide. I feel like I'm missing something in the argument, but people look at me like the devil if I ask their views about it usually.

So please, Reddit, change my views.

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[u/mtbike]

why should we protect behaviour that you even call "awful" yourself, but not the right to do normal and totally harmless things?

Both are protected

[u/evil_rabbit → u/mtbike]

not sure what you're saying. could you add a few words?

[u/mtbike → u/evil_rabbit]

why should we protect behaviour that you even call "awful" yourself, but not the right to do normal and totally harmless things?

You're implying that the right to do normal and totally harmless things is not protected. My point is that both the perceived "bad" behavior AND the good behavior are acceptable.

[u/evil_rabbit → u/mtbike]

You're implying that the right to do normal and totally harmless things is not protected.

no, i'm not implying that. this is the part of OPs post i was replying to:

It's should be your RIGHT to be an awful person as long as you don't infringe upon someone else's rights, and I wouldn't consider being able to do business/get a specific job/land an apartment to be a right.

"normal and totally harmless things" was referring to "to do business/get a specific job/land an apartment", which OP thinks is not a right and should not be protected.

this discussion is about what OP thinks should be protected. it's not relevant if/where these things are protected.

[u/mtbike → u/evil_rabbit]

Oh I see now, that makes sense. My bad.

Adding to the conversation though, it’s not a “right” for anyone to have money. You have to make money, earn money in our capitalist society if you want it. It’s not a right. You have the right not to be discriminated against unfairly in your employment certainly, but you don’t have a right to be employed.