Civil Rights Legislation

The idea that we can/should eliminate discrimination through legislation is very commonplace. I have tried to show how freedom can promote equality and how the Civil Rights Act has been distorted from its original purpose. I have also tried to use this technique that Michael Cloud discusses in this article.

Freedom promoting equality

• The sports world integrated without legislation or litigation (Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson). Owners and Managers realized they would lose money and competition unless they allowed minorities to compete on an equal level. There is no reason to think that any other field would be different.
• The segregated South had to pass laws to maintain segregation. Businesses were accepting money from Blacks despite the racial tension in the area. They could not afford discriminatory practices and did not need laws to change their practices.

• Recently a couple were ejected from an airliner (before take-off) because they shouted a string of obscenities at the other passengers. They then sued the airline on the grounds that they were discriminated against because they have a disease that compels them to utter profanities.
• In 1992 a Florida court used these laws to award a white woman permanent disability benefits -- ruling that her employer should have provided a segregated workplace to cater to her fear of blacks.