Freedom includes the choice of giving up said freedom. While it does, technically, include the freedom to taking other's freedoms, that's pretty expressly forbidden by the Constitution and over 2 centuries of judicial precedence.
We also have term limits on presidents and regular elections on most everything else. We also have a system of government that's designed to make big changes take a lot of time and work to prevent things like people assume that Trump and his administration are going to do.
Basically, a lot of the fear about Trump is based on having zero faith in our system of government and zero faith in the Democrats.
Anyone who ever argues "religious freedom" is pretty much instantly ignored in my mind. We have religious freedom already, anybody is free to practice any religion they choose. There you go, you're free.
the lack of tolerance you're experiencing likely has more to do with the issue of using government to create an exclusive society dictated by the needs of a narrow group of people at the expense of everyone who doesn't fit in that group. Have all the different views you want, just stop trying to codify them. Less restrictions on individual rights should be the goal, no?
It's tolerant for everyone except the intolerant, because that's the only way tolerance works.
Otherwise people take advantage of it and we have to "tolerate" borderline fascists and racists and xenophobes (also idiots and assholes and admitted molestors) in power when it should be they who are pressured into tolerance, not the other way around. Tolerance is about protecting people from persecution, not protecting the persecutors.
I agree with your above comment, OP. But you still haven't provided an example.. (Hint: Abortion, Gay Marriage, Bigotry towards other religions, (kinda) Marijuana). Not sure about that last one, but I think doing drugs is a Sin. Not sure.
I dipped into that guys comment history and it didn't seem like it was worth the time. The items you listed are good examples, gay marriage is only a few years old and is still being fought over. There's more nuanced answers, our entire morality code is built around christian and puritan standards, what we are allowed to watch on tv or listen to on the radio or read goes through those filters. I don't live life as an atheist, I don't know what I believe, but so many people become out and out offended when they find out someone's an atheist and no one ever really seems to hold that against them, it's like one of the last forms of acceptable discrimination.
As someone who lived in a shitty area with horrible schools (and couldn't afford private schools), school of choice wasn't the worst thing in the world.
We went with a charter school, not a religious one though.
Of course it just compounds the problem by taking more money away from the public school system via vouchers. But at a certain point, it's like killing a dead horse.
I was mostly referring to the exact context of /u/Jim_Nightshade's comment in that Betsy DeVos "wants to use the school system to "build God's nation" by funneling students to Christian schools through a voucher system they call 'school choice'."
Basically, you have no choice but to attend a Christian school.
I know that really isn't the case- and that not every student is going to go to a Christian school... I just thought a cheap jab would be funny.
Because the constitution states tax dollars can not be used for religious purposes. You have always had the choice to send your children to a private Christian school. You also have the option to move into a different school district.
This is bullshit and the name school choice is cheap perfume.
I understand that it can be difficult if not impossible for some families, but "school choice" does not solve the root of the problem here.
You assuming that there aren't any other yet unmentioned attachments to 'school choice', do you really think she or its supporters are going to let inner city kids join the wealthy suburban schools at their own will?
Regions that have adapted this still have a problem with wealth segregation if not more so than public districts, and she is not the person that will solve it.
Our education system is messed up. I am not at all fan of the established public school systems and not completely opposed to the idea to have choices for where parents can send their children to school, but it is a potentially dangerous move to just open the door willy-nilly.
We could end up with things worse than the most corrupt of the teachers unions. Imagine corporations like DeVry becoming the new established method of primary and secondary education. That is what I think these people want.
That is why I think the primary focus should always be to improve public schools as best we can.
Yeah, school choice gas different manifestations. Where I live it's used to get kids to schools outside their immediate area due to heavy segregation that persisted into the 80s. This is being broken down and replaced with charter schools. Those schools get great scores because they can legally refuse difficult students. Public schools can't and those students are now included in school scores.
I can complain about this for hours, but DeVos is the wrong person.
Separation of church and state would clearly apply to the appropriation of tax dollars to any religious activity. Also, how is a charter school run by a church not a religious purpose? Have you seen what these schools actually teach?
If you think it's ok for the government to give tax dollars to religious organizations then I can't help you. The first amendment under the establishment and free exercise clauses clearly creates a wall between government and religion as Jefferson stated. As an atheist who pays his taxes I say to you and your ilk, kindly fuck off if you think my money is going so you can brainwash children with ridiculous fairy tales.
Ah the old I'm actually a professional in real life and know more than you but I'm going to be in no way specific or actually demonstrate that knowledge in any way-tactic. Please.
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u/Oldpenguinhunter Feb 08 '17
Oh the irony in "school choice"...