I think most Americans would agree that a pastor like myself should not be compelled by the government to use my speech to support someone else’s perspective. I think that has parallels to the cake maker. The cake maker is using his or her artistic ability to make a cake and that cake communicates something. I think that cake is speech, that says ‘we celebrate this union.’ I just don’t think they should be forced by the government to use their speech to support someone else’s perspective….I would like the line to be drawn in services that involve speech. Indiana Baptist pastor Tim Overton
The 4th District Court of Appeal in San Diego upheld a lower court ruling that tossed out a family's lawsuit that tried to block Encinitas Union School District from teaching yoga as an alternative to traditional gym classes. "While the practice of yoga may be religious in some contexts, yoga classes as taught in the district are, as the trial court determined, 'devoid of any religious, mystical, or spiritual trappings,'" the court wrote in a 3-0 opinion. Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock and their two children had brought the lawsuit claiming yoga promoted Hinduism and inhibited Christianity. They were disappointed with the ruling and considering their options. "No other court in the past 50 years has allowed public school officials to lead children in formal religious rituals like the Hindu liturgy of praying to, bowing to, and worshipping the sun god," attorney Dean Broyles said in a statement. Paul V. Carelli IV, a lawyer for the district, said there were no rituals occurring in the classroom and no one was worshipping the sun or leading Hindu rites. The district said the practice is taught in a secular way to promote strength, flexibility and balance.
Kansas Bans Poor People From Spending Welfare On Cruise Ships Kansas welfare recipients will be unable to get more than $25 per day in benefits under a new law sent this week to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's desk by the state legislature. The bill also prohibits welfare recipients from spending their benefits at certain types of businesses, including liquor stores, fortune tellers, swimming pools and cruise ships. "We're trying to make sure those benefits are used the way they were intended," state Rep. Michael O'Donnell (R) said, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. "This is about prosperity. This is about having a great life."
As a godless, independent wackiness observer, I observe your items 2. and 3. to be wacky. A balanced budget amendment would cripple the reasonable and proper functioning of government. No modern government can function without borrowing, even those with no net debt , such as Norway, borrow to balance current receipts with current expenditures. To suggest such a simple minded action as Abolishing the IRS has great popular appeal. But that suggestion cannot be taken seriously without proposing a plausible alternative. Item 4 , if actually effective, would be a critical first step in restoring the responsiveness of government to the people (not necessarily a good thing if the voting populace is poorly educated). We have already had campaign finance reform, and it is ineffective because of a nebulous First Amendment. Short of revolution, it will prove impossible to achieve effective campaign finance reform without amending the Constitution, and that would have to be initiated by the States, as Congress can't be expected to move against its members' personal interests.
^(Rolling eyes.)^ Yeah...Okay...Whatever. Things are really working out well for the (formerly) United States, without those items, huh???
Fantastic. It's a start. Now, if we can only shut down a bunch of other "government run" agencies, we'll be starting the road to recovery. I got an idea. Let's start with the IRS and the House Of Representatives. Could all be done via the Constitution. (Sorry, I know you don't like that word.)
I'd like to apologize to some of my left wing brethren around here because I am so addicted to freedom, just to make them feel better. But, of course, I won't because I can't. Some addictions, a feller just can't break.