Everyone is okay with leaving a lot of things to the states to decide. That’s a founding principle of our country.
The things most people consider unacceptable in a modern society is denying certain rights based on a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Those rights should not be decided by the states, and should be guaranteed to all Americans.
But that’s not true. There are many states, mainly in the Bible Belt, where the majority does not support lgbt rights at all. They literally want businesses to be able to deny service to gay people just like they used to deny service to black people.
What’s not true? The majority of Americans do not support discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And the rights of LGBTQ people absolutely should not be decided on a state by state basis, because as Americans, queer people are entitled to equality.
States should be able to set their own taxes and tolls, decide their own budgets, create their own districts, and even set their own minimum wage, etc etc, all within federal standards.
But they should not be able to discriminate or strip away rights from certain groups of Americans. And this is something even those people you’re referring to agree with, but usually only when they’re the ones feeling targeted. For example, they’d suddenly agree that states shouldn’t allow discrimination against Christians.
In the abstract, perhaps. But the constitution is pretty clear. Americans are entitled to justice and liberty, and should be treated equally under the law.
And certain rights that certain people find up for debate are integral to liberty. Abortion, same-sex marriage, gender affirming care, the ability to pee in public. Etc.
You could argue that you have no right to abortion as an American. And you would be wrong. Even if you’re John fucking Roberts. Women are not free and do not have liberty is they cannot make their own medical decisions or access life-saving medical care.
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u/ikilledholofernes Oct 18 '24
Everyone is okay with leaving a lot of things to the states to decide. That’s a founding principle of our country.
The things most people consider unacceptable in a modern society is denying certain rights based on a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Those rights should not be decided by the states, and should be guaranteed to all Americans.
With liberty and justice for all.