Sunday, July 1, 2007

A deeper look at the Supremes

Social justice blogs and bloggers are decrying the latest pair of disingenuous U.S. Supreme Court justices George W. Bush appointed, and weenie Democratic senators let get confirmed because they were scared silly of the GOP nuking the filibuster practice forever (how'd that work for you, senators? shaking head). I agree with that criticism.

But the decision that upset me most this week is one that seems to upset others least.

No question, the five majority are making law instead of interpreting the Constitution in all these activist rulings, as they did in rulings banning a medical procedure used in abortions and eroding women's rights to equal pay. That's wrong, and it validifies my refrain in the '04 election cycle: It's all about the judges.

1) Overturning a key aspect of the McCain-Feingold law that restricted interest groups from advertising for candidates two months before elections: YEA! This is a fundamental First Amendment issue. I favor corporations and groups putting out their own ads instead of donating to campaigns to do it. It would be easier for us to see who's the pimp and what's the real deal with the devil. I would think the people really scared by this are candidates. They won't be able to control the message, and they'll risk greater consequences overpromising to fringe constituencies.

2) Essentially overturn of Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education promising desegregated schools: The status quo wasn't working. Congress, legislatures and communities must get the brightest minds together to come up with a new way to integrate society. Look at Asbury Park and other urban schools. How integrated are they? Communities develop by economic demographics more than anything. To desegregate, we have to factor in class at least equally to race. Forced busing didn't work. It drove middle-class families to religious schools, private schools or home school. The public charter school program seems, so far, so good. They offer something special to encourage motivated students to apply. As long as public charter or magnet schools admit students according to a balanced demographics, they could lead the way in desegregating schools, without giving extremists ammunition to claim reverse racism.

3) Bong Hits 4 Jesus: nonsensical decision. Common sense, which the Radical 5 apparently don't have, tell me a school does not have the right to punish kids for what they do outside school, after school was dismissed. My own school district has tried this and failed to get public support. The Radical 5 seem to have ignored two fundamental points: Children have legal standing only through the parents. Parents have legal liability for their children. Therefore, as everyone through time has known that these misogynist justices insist on repressing, Mom's the boss.

The Radical 5 showed their miniscule credibility by passing judgment on the meaning of a meaningless logo. So much for the First Amendment they extended to corporations and lobby groups. Citizens don't need free speech anymore, now that corporations have that right, I guess. They are so out of touch with reality that neither the justices nor apparently the lawyers figured out the "drug advocacy" is just a skateboard label.

I want some rich person to print a million "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" T-shirts and send them to high school students so they can wear them en masse to school, like V did in sending his Guy Fawkes costumes to everyone in London in "V for Vendetta."

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