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Federal Overreach?

Same topic, different views

By Tim Baldwin and Joe Carbonari

By Tim Baldwin

The federal government has issued “guidance” on how public schools are to treat transgender students. President Obama’s administration stated that the federal government would pull funding from states that do not comply with this guidance.

The federal government is overreaching its power and causing unnecessary division in America, not based on law but on ideology. CNN recently noted, “The letter does not carry the force of law but the message was clear: Fall in line or face loss of federal funding.” But like the gay marriage issue, states have a way of separating themselves from the federal government’s mandate.

Regarding gay marriage, states have a simple option: get out of the marriage licensing business. This way, no public employee will be forced to issue a license he or she believes is immoral. Similarly, states can reject federal funding and take control of educating their students, which is what the Texas governor threatened to do. As for Congress, if they get ticked enough, they could revamp the Civil Rights Act to leave this issue to the states.

Many Americans are weary of the federal government intruding into issues that should be left to individuals and states. Journalists have demonstrated that Trump’s success is largely based on this feeling. In this regard, Obama’s transgender position may prove untimely and unhelpful for Clinton this close to election day.


 

By Joe Carbonari

We were not meant to live alone. We are meant to live with those that we love. It ought to be legal for all, even if it involves unconventional sexuality. The right to form a commitment of partnership to another ought not to be precluded by limiting the gender mix or expression. It is not a public issue.

It becomes a public issue when it involves harm to another. Denial of service is a harm. When service is denied based on a disapprobation of a class of people, members of that grouping are designated as unfitting. That is an assault on their character and psyche. It does not strengthen our families nor our communities. It is counterproductive.

To uphold someone’s right to deny service on a personal distaste basis carries individual rights too far. It becomes a balance of rights. When religion is invoked to tip the scale it ought to be disallowed. It is incendiary. Our beliefs differ. All should be respected, but none should be given preference.

At base, it is a matter of decency. We should not demean others and we should remember that we are all fallible, capable of misjudgment and error. Demeaning those that we disagree with allows us to dismiss them, to exclude them from those for whom we care.

Also concerning is the Trump phenomenon. We are lowering our standards and celebrating the nasty. It is not healthy. It will not make America great.