RE: Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Colorado Baker
June 7, 2018 at 11:14 am
(This post was last modified: June 7, 2018 at 11:23 am by Neo-Scholastic.)
The product in question, a wedding cake, is not being sold as a commodity. It is a bespoke product. It is also a product used specifically as a symbolic expression to convey meaning. It is like the difference between a bed sheet and a flag. Burning a bed sheet is not a symbolic act; burning a flag is a symbolic act. The plaintiffs in this specific case are using state power and forcing the baker to design and craft a symbolic product. As such, it is compelled speech.
Speaking personally, as an architect, I could understand if other architects chose not to design religious buildings or abortion clinics. I don't see why a lawyer could not decline to defend oil company lobbists or graphic designers refuse to design product packaging for sex toys. As far as I'm concerned if a flag maker chose make flags and banners for any country, except Israel or South Africa, that's fine by me. For many business owners and entrepreneurs, such as myself, what we do for a living is an extension of ourselves. We choose to go into businesses so that we can decide for ourselves what is important and reflects our values. Having your own business represents personal and financial liberty. We apply our talents and resources so as not to be beholden to supervisors, bosses, or shareholders. We especially do not want to be agents of the state, having the government twist our businesses to satisfy whatever social engineering goals that the government considers desirable.
Speaking personally, as an architect, I could understand if other architects chose not to design religious buildings or abortion clinics. I don't see why a lawyer could not decline to defend oil company lobbists or graphic designers refuse to design product packaging for sex toys. As far as I'm concerned if a flag maker chose make flags and banners for any country, except Israel or South Africa, that's fine by me. For many business owners and entrepreneurs, such as myself, what we do for a living is an extension of ourselves. We choose to go into businesses so that we can decide for ourselves what is important and reflects our values. Having your own business represents personal and financial liberty. We apply our talents and resources so as not to be beholden to supervisors, bosses, or shareholders. We especially do not want to be agents of the state, having the government twist our businesses to satisfy whatever social engineering goals that the government considers desirable.
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