The USFG should repeal anti-discrimination laws in the private sector.

Anti-Discrimination Legislation (ADL) is a distinct and necessary facet of living in a modern capitalist society. But in order to truly appreciate why, we must first acknowledge that we all have a right to access the Market because in capitalist society access to the Market is a matter of life and death. One cannot survive in this country if one cannot purchase food, clothes, or shelter. ADL is what codifies and secures minority rights to access that Market when perhaps a biased majority would exclude them furthering a cycle poverty and degradation. It must be acknowledged as well that today’s ADL that my opponent seeks to repeal already does include caveats that allow for businesses to discriminate when a special business interest is at stake. For example Hooters can legally hire an all female wait-staff as a part of its business brand/appeal, but other positions like bartender or cook must be open to all genders. However this type of discrimination is very limited and must be justified showing that only a certain group can fulfill the work requirement. We must acknowledge that rights can and do overlap and conflict with each other. This subject involves the Freedom of Association and Involuntary Servitude, but as I will show these rights must be subordinate to economics rights of those purchasing publicly offered services. If one is going to open their shop to do business with the general public, prejudice has no place as a business model in our society. And finally we must recognize that in a capitalist society economic rights are closely tied to political rights - not simply as just a matter of economic influence but as moral characters within society. To disrupt these protected statuses would risk plunging those minorities back into the times of de facto and de jure segregation and discrimination effectively cutting them off from the Market and condemning them to poverty or worse. Argument #1: History of ADL Racism/sexism/homophobia is common in the US, but times were even worse 60 years ago for minorities trying to survive as second class citizens. Blacks could be denied housing in good neighborhoods and thus local schools, business loans arbitrarily denied, and dinning and motel services were regularly denied. Cut off from the economic resources of the racial majority combined with de jure racist Jim Crow laws these actions effectively isolated and ghettoized the black community [1]. Woman fared no better, being pigeon holed into jobs that were ‘more suited’ for women such as secretary or housekeeper while being denied professional employment which could lead to economic independence. Gays too were mistreated in the past like today, being fired from their jobs, kicked from their homes and labeled as criminally perverted and mentally ill. It is from this economic and political subjugation that today we see the rise of Black Lives Matter, Feminism and the LGBT Movement. Being denied economic rights has forced these groups to become political to address the moral wrongs society has refused to acknowledge. The main crux of my historical argument relies on the seminal Supreme Court case of Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US (1964) which enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title II meant to end discriminatory business practices. ADL has been passed because society has shown itself to be unnecessarily prejudicial and that prejudice puts the lives and livelihoods of minorities at the whim of others. Given the destructive nature these general prejudices have on society, ADL must stay in place to protect the economic and political rights of minorities that have been so hard fought. Argument #2: Modern Discrimination and why ADL is Still Important To put it simply it still exists. People are being arbitrarily denied many needed things like housing and employment. Cases involving discrimination are filed commonly showing that ADL is still needed to protect minorities; between 2010 - 2012 roughly 100,000 cases were filed [2]. But why is it important? Because cutting people off from opportunity in favor of certain groups maintains systemic poverty and forces minority groups into certain undesirable positions with no chance of betterment. One can tell the true value of a right when those rights are enacted by everyone. Would it be a good thing if everyone acted upon their right to discriminate against gender/racial/sexual minorities? How does society improve when we compartmentalize/ghettoize/alienate members of our own society? How does forcing conformity through economic violence on minorities improve the Market? Discrimination is foolish to begin with as it cuts off potential employees and customers from the Market, creating ADL simply puts this common sense practice into law. Argument #3: Against Religious Discrimination A common claim for exemption comes from religious people who don’t want to be associated with gays. Whether it be employment, housing or business services religious people claim their God allows them to treat fellow citizens as subhuman undeserving of basic kindness. I find this unacceptable as reasoning. We live in a secular society under secular law; no religious claim should invalidate that. No one should be subject to the whim of a God they don’t believe in. If a shop is open for business, it should not be allowed to recreate the damaging discrimination of the past with “No Gays Allowed” or “No Jews Allowed” on business doors. When it comes down to it, discrimination whether it be racial/gender/sexual/religious is an act of dehumanization – something that no one deserves. Without these protections it tells society that it is morally acceptable to treat people as inhuman undeserving of basic rights as it was 60 years ago. We cannot go back to those times, we already see the damage that past discrimination has done and how unjust and self perpetuating prejudice is. In conclusion ADL is necessary today as we continue to see elements of unjust discrimination happen. Encouraging things like racism sexism and homophobia does nothing more than perpetuate suffering and disunity in society for the sake of perpetuating suffering and disunity. Sources: [1] http://www.theatlantic.com... [2] http://sba.thehartford.com...