What DONT they regulate right now? You seem to have a very narrow definition or understanding of what regulation is. For example, do you think the state can legitimately restrict the kinds of bread I may eat
They do...
...the shirt colors I may wear
Ask some kids at some schools...
...the prices I may pay for any commodity
Are there not some still giver price supports for that purpose?
...what condiments I must provide in my restaurant
I would not doubt it in some states.
...how many hours of exercise I get per week
It's coming.(please read the whole post)
...the manner in which I brush my teeth
Thats a bit of a stretch, but they may command that we brush them to save money on socialized dental (LOL!)
...how many hours of television I watch
Why not? After all they make you license the thing in the UK and many here think (wrongly) that this is okay...why not see it as a tax fund stream? So much for each hour. It self regulates after a while and certain amount.
...and how often I call my mother?
Nah...I am sure they will let mothers regulate that as they are a far superior Nag than the government ever will be.
In other words, is the scope of my individual liberty really limited to just the rights protected in the Bill of Rights, with everything else open to government control?
I am glad you will read this. I NEVER said nor do I ever support government interfering with anything that is HARMLESS. I DO , however, see that some forms of entertainment and or activity can be harmful or at least be directed underground by way of regulation because of the greater message it sends to the society at large.
Your daughter comes home. Sweet, young innocent and asks you "Daddy...What is a Lap Dance? Some of the Boys at school want me to give them one." In that one moment of pain you have to honestly assess whether or not such a public allowance for this activity is good or harmful. Did we teach boys that your daughter is to be respected or be an object? Did we teach your daughter that she is of great worth and should look for a mate who will see only her or that sex and other activity surrounding it is simply okay between consenting adults? Do mince words here...your daughters or sons health, welfare, mental adjustment towards the opposite sex are ALL ON THE LINE. And if by chance this one activity can be sufficiently held away from them so as to allow time for that young person to mature and be protected to a point of adulthood where they view on such things is not shattered by something that happened when young then society has done its job and you as a parent will be relieved beyond words that she did not get violated along the way.
All too often we overlook theses things and demand our "rights" and do so because we see nothing wrong. In my opinion, and its just mine though I am sure others share it, we need to really take a second look at what we approve in the public square...because everything is riding on it.
I know all about the various ways the government intrudes into our personal lives these days. In fact, if you look around a bit you may find me whining about it on other threads. My question to you wasn't whether governments CAN regulate all of those things (obviously they have the raw power to do so), but whether those things were within the LEGITIMATE purview of governments.
I NEVER said nor do I ever support government interfering with anything that is HARMLESS. I DO , however, see that some forms of entertainment and or activity can be harmful or at least be directed underground by way of regulation because of the greater message it sends to the society at large.
A fair distinction, but the trouble then becomes: how harmful is too harmful? After all, no man is a moral island. Every action we take is going to have some consequence on others. A man's decision to spend my weekends golfing instead of with his family is going to have an effect on how his kids are raised. My desire to get a tattoo or an outrageous haircut is going to send a message that a lot of people don't like. (Or from the other side, my decision to drive a luxury vehicle or to hunt animals sends a bad message). Where, and how, do we draw the line regarding harm?
Your daughter comes home. Sweet, young innocent and asks you "Daddy...What is a Lap Dance? ... your daughters or sons health, welfare, mental adjustment towards the opposite sex are ALL ON THE LINE.
Wait a minute...weren't you just chastising someone upthread for emotionalizing the issue? :)
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your view) I don't have a daughter, so I can't give you an honest answer to your question. I've been told that having kids changes everything, so maybe this makes my opinion on the issue worthless.
I don't think we have to choose between having our daughters turn into strippers or banning lap dances entirely. There are a lot of things we wouldn't want people to do, but that we still allow in a free society. I wouldn't want any of my family members to lay off thousands of workers to boost a company's earning statement. I wouldn't like the idea of my nephew becoming a boxer or a professional hockey player, being pummeled for the amusement of tv viewers. But I don't think we have to prohibit those things, and open the door to government regulation over every aspect of our lives, in order to protect our families.