Civil disobedience in the modern United States is morally justified.

Apparently pro missed the format that I laid out in Round 1 where I mention that Round 1 for Pro is for posting their opening argument. As such, I do not have anything to refute. I do not want to waste a full round waiting. We will continue as follows Round 2/4: Arguments and rebuttals Round 5: Final rebuttals and closing statements (no new arguments) The following is a synopsis of Civil Disobedience. "Civil disobedience is the active, public, conscientious breach of the law to bring about a change in law or public policy. Henry David Thoreau coined the term in 1848 in his essay about his refusal as an abolitionist to pay the poll tax. Thoreau argued that citizens ought deliberately to break laws that conflict with their moral beliefs. Gandhi used nonviolent civil disobedience to protest racial pass laws in South Africa and in India"s independence struggle, including the famous Salt March against the British monopoly on salt. Dr. King and others made civil disobedience a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, defying Jim Crow laws through sit-ins, violating laws and court orders prohibiting marches and boycotts, and accepting jail sentences to highlight racial injustice. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King explains the moral arguments for civil disobedience and distinguishes between just and unjust laws. "(1) Civil disobedience is a "means to an end. " There is a time and season for civil disobedience. However, due to the advances made in the United States in regard to equality and the protection of individual rights, there is no moral justification for civil disobedience in the United States today. A: Civil Disobedience has been rendered obsolete and immoral via Social Contract/voting rights Social Contract theory "in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. "(2) In the United State the U. S. Constitution is our social contract which outlines our "rights" as citizens and the responsibilities of the government. I submit the First amendment in the U. S. Constitution as evidence of individual protection by the law. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. "(3) While there do still exist issues of racism and sexism, as well as discrimination based on religion, the political climate in the United States is such that the law of the land can handle these issues through the courts and through law. We the people can petition the government, through representation or voting. Thus, civil disobedience is no longer a necessary or moral means to an end in the U. S. , as other less divisive means are now available and effective to petition the government. B: The main issue with Civil Disobedience "The search for justice though civil disobedience may well be a formula for tyranny, for according to Locke, men enter society in order to be governed by known, settled laws. If the law-abiding majority increasingly has the impression that there is no such law or that it is not being enforced, it may choose rulers who will take law enforcement more seriously,. .. " (4) The issue is simple, there is no simple uniform way to decide which laws are just or unjust? Which laws deserve obedience and which do not? Would not the majority, as a direct result of civil disobedience enforce laws that are more strict and harsh in regard to disobedience to law. These issues make Civil Disobedience immoral. Conclusion: There are issues with and caused by civil disobedience. In the current political climate in the United States it is more efficient to petition the government through existing laws. If there do exist unjust laws, we the people are empowered with voting rights, among other rights to go about effecting change. This has rendered Civil disobedience both an immoral and obsolete option in the United States. (1) . https://www.google.com... (2) . http://www.britannica.com... (3) . http://www.law.cornell.edu... (4) . http://www.hastingsconlawquarterly.org...