BY RUSSELL TURNER
BUYING AND SELLING
Over the past several years we Americans have become addicted to government being involved in our lives. We seem to have forgotten that when government becomes more involved in our lives our freedoms are diminished. Government intervention and loss of freedom is a gradual thing; it reminds me of the old analogy of placing a frog in a pan of cold water and placing him on the stove, as long as the heat is slow and gradual he will stay in the pan until he is boiled to death. The founders of this nation gave us the tools to solve the majority of our problems; the free market solution will solve our problems if we will only allow it to operate.
Since the supreme court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that same sex marriage was legal in the United States, there have been several lawsuits against bakers who refused to decorate cakes for the same sex couples. Just a couple days ago the SCOTUS reversed a lower court decision where a same sex couple sued and won a huge judgment against a baker who refused to furnish a cake for their wedding. The baker cited his religious beliefs for his reason to refuse to participate in the wedding, but I have found that there is always another business that is willing and able to furnish a product that is in demand.
Over the years I have known several businessmen who would not take any public position on any political issue or controversial subject because it might hurt business. The businessmen who do have the courage to take a stand do it at their own peril, often it is a no win solution; when two sides differ on a subject you cannot please both of them. In a free society we all have the right to search out the businesses that have the same philosophy; government should not be using its power to make everyone conform to a utopian belief that will never exist. As for as myself I never wanted to force someone to do business with me who didn’t want to. I have found that there are always other businesses down the street that are eager to take my money. I have found that every human is a potential customer, and in a free market system if a business owner doesn’t want to do business with a large enough group of people he won’t be in business very long.
I feel that the recent ruling by SCOTUS was correct in this case. Just because someone opens a business doesn’t mean that he no longer will have the right to his opinions; granted, there will always be some who have some crazy ideas. When it comes to buying and selling let the market and the consumers determine who stays in or goes out of business.
Comments
Post a Comment