Wednesday, March 22, 2006
In Missouri, you can legislate morality
The Kansas City-based magazine, The Pitch, has an in-depth study of attempts by Missouri legislators, including such area politicians as Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City; and Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, to impose their own morality on their constituents.
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First, I would hardly say that a sanctimonious editorial constitutes an “in-depth” study.
Second, lets deal with what the “study” said regarding the two individuals you cited:
On Stevenson, the article gave this in-depth study of his voting record:
“Rep. Bryan Stevenson of Webb City is shielding the moral conscience of pharmacists, insurance companies, doctors, hospitals and health-care providers who want the right to deny treatment if a procedure or medication offends their morals.”
Now, who is trying to, as you put it, “impose their own morality” on others? Stevenson’s proposal is not forcing pharmacists and others to do something, rather it is an attempt to give them the right not to do something if they object to it. It seems to me that it is you and the authors of the “in-depth study” who want to impose your morality on pharmacists and require then to violate their own moral convictions. (Note: I would imagine that the impetus of this proposal is to deal with potential situations such as a case where a pharmacists is given a prescription for poison by a doctor who wants to assist a patient's suicide or for abortion purposes).
As to Goodman, his “sin” is as follows:
“Sen. Jack Goodman wants to cut off alimony payments to ex-spouses who are "living in sin" with boyfriends or girlfriends.”
Of course, you and the authors of the “in-depth” study realize that an ex-spouse loses the right to alimony once they remarry don’t you? So, you realize that this amendment is an attempt to rectify a situation where one is actually discriminated against for remarrying? Ergo, if you and the authors had your way, you would continue to cut off the alimony to an ex-spouse who remarries. However, you would allow alimony to continue if the ex-spouse refrained from marrying her significant other and rather just lived with them. Again, I would ask who, in this situation is trying to “impose their own morality” on others?
I know it is tempting to demonize people who’s political views you disagree with but you could at least try to debate their points rather then present a one-sided rant as an “in-depth” study.
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