An Inglorious Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is an important event for Americans. It’s the day we celebrate our shared ideals and freedoms. We promote patriotism, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (though some cities have decided happiness doesn’t necessarily involve fireworks, unfortunately).

Two people who pursued happiness much too far are Senator David Vitter of Louisiana and Senator Larry Craig of Idaho. Both are Republican senators from fairly conservative states. They’ve attached their names to a bill to change the United States Constitution as co-sponsors. The new amendment would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Senator Craig is infamous for apparently soliciting sex in a men’s restroom in the Minneapolis airport. Senator Vitter is infamous for appearing on lists of clients of the late Deborah Jeane Palfrey, commonly known as The DC Madam. Vitter admitted to committing serious sins, but hasn’t resigned in disgrace. Neither has Craig.

The news that Craig and Vitter are co-sponsoring legislation designed to protect marriage (by not allowing certain people to practice it) after having been caught cheating, lying, and sinning, is remarkable.

These two men, and presumably more of our national leadership, preached against exactly the same sort of thing they were committing regularly. Hypocrisy at its absolute worst.

These two people are so slimy, so slippery, so careless, that they didn’t resign from their positions of moral and political authority, and now they seek to regain their righteous places at the feet of John McCain and George W. Bush. They will attach their names to anything remotely smelling of traditional values.

They’re willing to change the Constitution, the primary document of our society, in order to recuperate a few points of their morality.

Enjoy the freedom to cheat on your wives and supposed values, Senators, even as you seek to take away freedom from others.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Speaking of freedom, the smoking ban is now in effect. Fargo bars will no longer allow smoking after voters passed an ordnance a few weeks ago.

While public health concerns are important, it’s worrying to see them trumping property rights. Business owners, homeowners, and even renters have certain rights on their property. Taking away those rights for the convenience of some and the inconvenience of others is inappropriate.

Smoke-free bars may be nice and maybe more people will go to bars now (although that wasn’t the case in Moorhead after their ban went into effect), but there were already smoke-free bars available. The business owners decided to go smoke free, and that’s the way it should be.

Fargo voters have made it clear they will have no qualms about infringing on the rights of property owners to do as they like with their property, within reason. Perhaps the next election will see a ban on open-toed sandals - they’re a public health danger, right? All those toes, susceptible to dropped bottles or chairs? Heaven forbid a woman attempts to dance in high heels. Ban them from the bars, quickly!

We’ve decided it’s okay to tell private property owners what to do with or allow in their places of business, even publicly accessible businesses such as bars and restaurants. That’s a slippery slope and a scary prospect for business owners. Where does it stop?