[Jim Cane]

If, as Reich asserts, the government should not enact legislation on the basis of moral grounds, then all social programs should be abolished. Isn't it on the basis of morality that government forcibly takes one person's hard earned money and transfers it over to someone else?

Morality was at the heart of of the war on poverty. In practice? No. But in it's intentions? Well, no on that, too. But somewhere in there - the marketing of the WOP, perhaps, yes. Moral outrage at having to see poor people.

[randita]

In truth, all law is made on the basis of some moral principle. It is specious for Reich or anyone else for that matter to single out one or two laws whose moral basis he disagrees with and label only those as being religiously founded.

In a republic, it is up to the voters (not Robert Reich and not the courts) to decide what moral principles are going to be codified. It matters little whether or not those moral principles stem from religious convictions (although it's certainly healthier for society and the future of the republic, if they do).