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To: Trailerpark Badass
"...does the force Madison speaks of impose morality, or enforce the law?"

We have on the books laws against public nudity on city streets, laws against engaging in sex acts within public view, laws against pedophilia (even if "consensual"), laws against the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors, laws against screaming profanities in places of worship, etc.

These laws all legislate morality, ie. in the commission of any one of these illegal acts nobody is being deprived of his property, his life or his right to come and go as he pleases.

Which of them, if any, do you oppose?

172 posted on 02/01/2003 2:23:06 PM PST by Bonaparte
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To: Bonaparte
Those laws regulate public behavior, except for the pedophilia, which involves a minor, who cannot give "consent." I have no problem with a community setting standards for public behavior, such as laws against public drunkeness.

176 posted on 02/01/2003 2:54:01 PM PST by Trailerpark Badass
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To: Bonaparte; Trailerpark Badass
Which, if any of them, do you oppose.

I wouldn't oppose any of them as State laws. Under the Tenth Amendment, States are given wide latitude for enacting laws concerning both crime and moral behavior.

The problem comes when the Federal government legislates moral behaviors. It then becomes a one size fits all policy over what types of morality should be legislated and what level of punishment is appropriate.

I'd prefer the Federal government stick with national defense, foreign policy, and a few other powers named in Article I.

It certainly has no business dealing with, environmental policies, vice, education, health care, welfare or retirement.

249 posted on 02/01/2003 8:32:02 PM PST by Ken H
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