Should political affiliation be a protected class?

[Billy_Kinetta]

Protected classes are unconstitutional.

 

[dblack]

Protected classes are unconstitutional.

Not according to the Supreme Court.

And I think a lot of people would support adding political affiliation to the list. The ad campaign writes itself: "I was fired from my job, with no pension, because my boss found out I was a Democrat!! - ... Vote YES on Proposition 334! Stop political bullying now!"

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

Protected classes are unconstitutional.

Not according to the Supreme Court.

The Court erred in light of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

"protected class" is one of the most discriminatory terms that have ever came from our govt.

It does kill the whole "equal protection" idea.

 

[dblack]

"protected class" is one of the most discriminatory terms that have ever came from our govt.

It does kill the whole "equal protection" idea.

I actually see it more as a free speech issue, because that's what's being targeted by the law.

 

[sealybobo]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Trump Wants All Your Voter Data. What Could Go Wrong?

 

[sealybobo]

I was reading that California has declared political affiliation to be a protected class with regards to anti-discrimination legislation. Seems kind of crazy to me. What do you all think?

THE PRIVATE BALLOT is tradition in the United States. Now, President Trump’s voter fraud commission wants to collect every American’s voting history and make it available to the public—all in the name of “election integrity.”

 

[Montrovant]

I was reading that California has declared political affiliation to be a protected class with regards to anti-discrimination legislation. Seems kind of crazy to me. What do you all think?

No. Political affiliation should not, IMO, be a protected class. It should not be so because all it takes to have a political affiliation is ticking a box on a form. That's about as durable as a hairstyle.

Can I assume you feel the same way about religion as a protected class?

 

[dblack]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

 

[sealybobo]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

 

[dblack]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Nonsense.

It has nothing to do with 'socialists.'

No one has an 'agenda.'

States and local governments are at complete liberty to regulate local markets consistent with Commerce Clause jurisprudence.

 

[dblack]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Nonsense.

It has nothing to do with 'socialists.'

No one has an 'agenda.'

States and local governments are at complete liberty to regulate local markets consistent with Commerce Clause jurisprudence.

You forgot to mention "case law"!

Anyway, once again, you're confusing what is with what we think should, or should not, be - which is the question of the thread.

Do you think political affiliation should be a protected class?

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

The one positive side effect of making political affiliation a protected class is that it highlights what the laws are all really about. The issue is usually framed as an equal rights issue - with liberals claiming the laws are protecting equal rights, and conservatives claiming the opposite. But I think it's more accurately characterized as a freedom of speech issue.

Wrong.

It's regulatory policy intended to stabilize markets and facilitate a profitable business environment. Businesses open to the general public that engage in discrimination is disruptive to both.

 

[dblack]

The one positive side effect of making political affiliation a protected class is that it highlights what the laws are all really about. The issue is usually framed as an equal rights issue - with liberals claiming the laws are protecting equal rights, and conservatives claiming the opposite. But I think it's more accurately characterized as a freedom of speech issue.

Wrong.

It's regulatory policy intended to stabilize markets and facilitate a profitable business environment. Businesses open to the general public that engage in discrimination is disruptive to both.

Patent bullshit. Protected classes is about suppressing the expression of unpopular biases.

Do you think political affiliation should be a protected class?

 

[sealybobo]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

Great question. I think being a known nazi could be cause to lose your job. So I guess an employer at a right to work company could fire you for being a democrat/republican. This is why you don't talk politics at work..

But I don't think it would be legal for me to fire someone and say the reason is I don't agree with their politics.

Good question on the Nazi thing. Why can't someone be a nazi? How about a communist or socialist?

 

[dblack]

Apparently several states have done this. And it does seem like a really bad idea to me. I realize socialists have an agenda that celebrates any government encroachment on business, but this is worse than I thought.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

Great question. I think being a known nazi could be cause to lose your job. So I guess an employer at a right to work company could fire you for being a democrat/republican. This is why you don't talk politics at work..

But I don't think it would be legal for me to fire someone and say the reason is I don't agree with their politics.

Good question on the Nazi thing. Why can't someone be a nazi? How about a communist or socialist?

Well, that's the question. In the states that have added political affiliation to the protected classes list, how do they decide which political affiliations get protection and which don't? Doesn't it seem like an obvious conflict of interest, not to mention an abuse of power, for government to decide which political parties get the preferential treatment?

 

[sealybobo]

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

Great question. I think being a known nazi could be cause to lose your job. So I guess an employer at a right to work company could fire you for being a democrat/republican. This is why you don't talk politics at work..

But I don't think it would be legal for me to fire someone and say the reason is I don't agree with their politics.

Good question on the Nazi thing. Why can't someone be a nazi? How about a communist or socialist?

Well, that's the question. In the states that have added political affiliation to the protected classes list, how do they decide which political affiliations get protection and which don't? Doesn't it seem like an obvious conflict of interest, not to mention an abuse of power, for government to decide which political parties get the preferential treatment?

Well look at how conservatives went after communists during the Red Scare. Was it legal

Lessons From the Red Scare

 

[sealybobo]

Are you fucking kidding me?

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

Great question. I think being a known nazi could be cause to lose your job. So I guess an employer at a right to work company could fire you for being a democrat/republican. This is why you don't talk politics at work..

But I don't think it would be legal for me to fire someone and say the reason is I don't agree with their politics.

Good question on the Nazi thing. Why can't someone be a nazi? How about a communist or socialist?

Well, that's the question. In the states that have added political affiliation to the protected classes list, how do they decide which political affiliations get protection and which don't? Doesn't it seem like an obvious conflict of interest, not to mention an abuse of power, for government to decide which political parties get the preferential treatment?

A few of the people on McCarthy's list were actually spies for the Soviet Union. However, many of the listed suspects were merely left-leaning public figures, liberal Democrats The list also included those who used to or never work for the State Department. Even being drunk or incompetent while working for the State Department could land a person on the list.

During hearings, McCarthy often asked extremely detailed questions involving what the person did 10 years ago. When the accused invoked the Fifth Amendment to protect themselves, McCarthy said this act is "the most positive proof obtainable that the witness is Communist."

Lattimore's outspokenness, liberal views and acquaintance with Chiang Kai-Shek made him an easy target for McCarthy's anti-Communist campaigns. In 1950, McCarthy accused Lattimore of being the number one spy for the Soviets. After facing 12 days of intense questioning by McCarthy and his committee, Lattimore was charged with seven counts of perjury. Even though these charges were dismissed three years later, Lattimore's reputation and credibility among people was destroyed. Even after his death in 1989, many still questioned his loyalty to his country.

Val Lorwin was a State Department employee who had served in the labor section. When Joe McCarthy first brandished his list of alleged Communists, Lorwin was number 54 on the list. At this time, Lorwin was working as a labor economist in Paris.

Lorwin landed on the government's radar when his old friend Harold Metz testified that Lorwin had shown him a red card for the Communist Party and had hosted some "strange-looking people" at his house. Metz had actually made a mistake. Lorwin was later cleared in 1952 by the Loyalty Board when he testified that the red card was for the Socialist Party and the "strange-looking people" were Socialists.

Despite this, Lorwin was still indicted before the State Department for perjury. It wasn't until two years later did the Assistant Attorney General dismissed these charges. By then, Lorwin's reputation was tainted and Lorwin even said he felt like "several years of my own and my wife's life" were taken away. He even wrote, "I was thankful that we have no children".

 

[dblack]

I was surprised too. It seems kind of insane to me, but our nation has pretty much gone 'full-retard' in the last few years. Maybe I should stop being surprised.

Were you just as shocked when Trump wanted to put your name on a list?

I'm sure like a good NAZI you don't care because it's the NAZI's who are creating the lists. You'll be ok so you don't mind. But imagine if Obama tried to get that same list. Boy would you see things differently then. Why? Because you put party before country.

Are you rich or stupid?

Speaking of which, do you think an employer should be able to fire someone if she finds out they are a Nazi? Or should the Nazi be protected from discrimination?

Great question. I think being a known nazi could be cause to lose your job. So I guess an employer at a right to work company could fire you for being a democrat/republican. This is why you don't talk politics at work..

But I don't think it would be legal for me to fire someone and say the reason is I don't agree with their politics.

Good question on the Nazi thing. Why can't someone be a nazi? How about a communist or socialist?

Well, that's the question. In the states that have added political affiliation to the protected classes list, how do they decide which political affiliations get protection and which don't? Doesn't it seem like an obvious conflict of interest, not to mention an abuse of power, for government to decide which political parties get the preferential treatment?

Well look at how conservatives went after communists during the Red Scare. Was it legal

Lessons From the Red Scare

You don't seem to have any conception of what I'm talking about here. What are you going on about?

Do you think political affiliation should be a protected class?