[Paloma_55]

Very frightening that anyone supposedly "conservative" would support government mandated morality enforcable by the barrell of a gun!

Well.. it all depends on what one defines as morality

Some would say that pounding their scumball neighbor's head into the ground is a moral thing. Should our government stop that? How about running red lights?

I get a kick out of those who claim that the government is not in the business of legislating morality. That is Exactly what they are supposed to do.

Now, again... what is morality?

In essence, it is the collective determination of what is good for society.

I agree that there should be limits as to how far a government will go to limit someone's behavior, for example, they shouldn't peek in your window to determine if you are looking at dirty pictures or banging your boyfriend or even smoking dope... that is too far out of their scope.

On the other hand, I see no problem with the government determining that certain things are bad for society (remember, WE are the government) and thereby making it illegal to sell, distribute, or purchase said things.

If a black market exists on those items, that is essentially OK with me if it stays small enough that it does not have the social impact that legitimizing it would.

Pornography is a great example. Recreational drugs are another.

All that said, the penalty for such things should fit the crime. In the sense that possession of some of these things is "anti-social" at worst, the penalty should be a slap on the wrist. But when you legalize something, you essentially have declared it moral. You have declared that it is OK for society. This changes the equation, especially for kids trying to determine what is right and wrong.

God also created hell.. remember that!

[Junior]

I get a kick out of those who claim that the government is not in the business of legislating morality.

The government exists to keep others from denying us our rights, not to tell us what we can, or cannot read. If it isn't hurting anyone but the user, and he or she is aware of the danger, what business is it of yours to stick your nose in and tell them they can't do it?

[tpaine]

Now, again... what is morality?

In essence, it is the collective determination of what is good for society.

_____________________________________


Sorry kid. this is not a collective society.
We are still a Constitutuonal Republic.

[A.J.Armitage]

Now, again... what is morality?

In essence, it is the collective determination of what is good for society.

From your perspective as an atheist, why should I or anyone care about what's good for society? Why is the well-being of the other products of blind evolution who happen to be the same species as me a standard to which I must conform? Why is there any standard to which I must conform?

[robertpaulsen]

"Now, again... what is morality?"

I wish I could find the quote, but someone once said something along the lines of, "If you have to define morality for someone, you're never going to win the argument".

And if they didn't say it, they should have.

[steve-b]

remember, WE are the government

B*llsh*t.

I did not use gas prohibited on the battlefield on my fellow citizens before burning them out of house and home.

I do not steal a large chunk of everyone's paycheck and spend it like a drunken sailor.

I am not in the business of guaranteeing that criminals will enjoy safe working conditions, free of the risk that a potential victim might be armed.

Shall I continue?

[Mockingbird For Short]

I'm with you.

To the others, methinks thou dost protest too much.

[laredo44]

remember, WE are the government

But to what purpose? What is the objective of government? The twisted knicker team always loses sight of the fact that we have a government for a reason, and when it comes to certain things, e.g., pornography they quickly abandon that purpose.

Out of curiosity, are you in favor of government banning birth control as your brethren of just a few decades back were?