Posted May 10, 2020
From where I stand, a key to the differences in perspective between Red and Blue lies in the concept of ‘personal freedom’. I would like to propose a working definition to create a clearer, more meaningful conversation around the issues.
People can be seen to live their lives in just two domains of the world: the personal, and the public, grey areas notwithstanding. The personal domain of life consists of areas where the impact of personal actions and choices is limited to the individual making the choice. Choices here impose no predictably unwelcome impacts on others.
The public domain of life consists of those areas where the impact of actions and choices plays out on other people.
I assert that the complete right to personal freedom only exists when the impact of actions and choices is felt by only by the person making the choice, and by those who, with full knowledge and without any coercive elements at play, choose to accept the impact those choices and actions.
I assert that there is no right to freedom of choice when predictably unwelcome or harmful impacts are inflicted on other people without their consent.
A person has a right to their personal beliefs, and to live their personal lives consistent with those beliefs. They have no right to impose those personal beliefs on the personal lives of other people.
Abortion is a prime example of this difference. Those wanting to outlaw abortion believe it is wrong, and feel a right to impose that belief on the personal lives of other women. I stand with the principle that the woman’s right to determination over her own body takes precedence.
The rights of a business owner over his own ‘private enterprise’ are another key example. Some feel that because they own and manage a business, they have the right to refuse expressions of the business that violate their personal beliefs.
I assert that there is no such thing as purely ‘private enterprise’ – that the moment you open your doors to the public, you assume an obligation to serve equally all who wish to purchase your goods or services. Similarly, when you hire employees, you have a right to require certain standards of performance in job-related matters, but you have no right to impose your personal beliefs on your employees in ways that are unrelated to job performance.
Specifically, a business owner has no right to deny service to a potential customer because the owner disapproves of the customer’s lifestyle – as in denying a wedding cake to a gay couple. The business owner has no right to deny employee insurance coverage for birth control or abortion because they personally think it is wrong.
Again, a person has a right to their personal beliefs, and to live their personal lives consistent with those beliefs. They have no right to impose those personal beliefs on the personal lives of other people.