[I realize you're not into the whole "business" "economics" thing -- that's only for mean, greedy rich white people who cheated other people and didn't earn that and didn't build that and roads and bridges 'n stuff -- but here goes:
Market forces are choices people make. Choices create market forces. And you support people when they choose to issue consequences when they see or hear something that "offends" them. They don't have to, they choose to.
So yes, in that way, "market forces" (and you've already admitted that you don't care about free markets, so this is all pretty ironic) are intimidating people into not saying what they're thinking for fear of retribution. You're for that, I am not.
Yes. Exactly. I want that stupid homophobe living in fear that when he tells a *** joke, someone is going to run down to human resources and report his ass and he'll have to clean out his desk.
I know this will sound crazy, but there was a time when we old hippies felt lucky to live in a country that allowed us to be free with our expression, to tolerate others, to engage those with whom we disagreed in an effort to change their hearts and minds. All without issuing "consequences". See, "consequences" were something The Man issued. Today, the only people who allowed to say what they're thinking are those on your end of the political spectrum. Moderates and independents and conservatives had just better shut the **** up OR ELSE.
Of course, that was before we were discussing whether the Constitution was written by a bunch of rich white slave owners, and how America needed to be fundamentally changed. So I realize I'm being a little nostalgic for the days of freedom of expression without "consequences".
Crazy, huh?
.
Yes, it's crazy to think you can win over people who are motivated by irrational hate to the point where they vote against their own economic interests.
Which is exactly what the homophobes did in 2004. "Hey, America, I know Bush was a total ****-up, but he'll keep the fags from getting married!"
And they totally gave this guy what he didn't earn in 2000- an electoral majority.
Guess what. He wrecked the economy, gutted the middle class, expended trillions in useless wars to enrich Dick Cheney (psst. Psst. Don't tell anyone his daughter is gay!) and totally never got around to banning gay marriage.
And now that gay marriage laws are falling across the country, the homophobes are now clinging to the 'Hey, can I refuse to bake a cake or tell *** jokes in the office? Please? Please?"
So, no, I'm not feeling particularly magnanimous towards the homophobes and letting them have some corner where they can still enjoy their bigotries. Somewhere between my underwater mortgage and having to work three jobs to pay down my medical debt, I've really lost any ability to sympathize with these people.