What scares the f*ck out of you?

[henry quirk]

Seems to me: the issue is neatly dealt with if one drops the whole religious freedom angle and gets down to the root, which is 'property'.

A business is property, it's owned. The owner, I think, should use (or misuse) his or property as he or she sees fit.

If such use (or misuse) offends the market (customers, potential and actual) then the owner will be punished through loss of profit. If such use (or misuse) pleases the market, then the owner will be rewarded through improved profit.

Not seein' how a focus on religion (freedom or restrictions on) serves any purpose 'cept to muddy the waters.

What I'm sayin': the atheist should be able to refuse the job for whatever reason (or for no reason) he cobbles together. The print shop is his to use or misuse as he sees fit.

Now, if I were the printer, I'd print anything and everything that comes across the threshold of my shop (if the money is right).

Monday: lesbian (I love her vulva!) wedding invitations.

Tuesday: KKK Holy Rollin' (don't forgit yer chewin' tobbacee!) Revival flyers.

Wednesday: Pro-choice (kill them babies!) pamphlets.

Thursday: Anti-abortion (don't kill them babies!) pamphlets.

Friday: Obama is my Lord and Savior (I'll blow him!) bumper stickers.

Saturday: Obama is the Anti-Christ (I'll blow him up!) bumper stickers.

Sunday: whatever comes through the door (and can pay).

But my mercenary bent is 'my' bent...can't see any good comin' from forcing that print shop across the way to do the same (besides, his principled stand [or prejudice] against 'this or 'that' may mean more profit for me).

This only exception I can see to Laissez-faire is if the owner, in denying a service or product, endangers the life of the customer (and I'm talkin' about a real, direct, threat to life, not just an inconvenience).

Again: the religion angle that both (all) sides run through the legal machinery just muddies the issue.

But: of course, that's the way the chess board is currently set for play (and why, in the end, not a one will be satisfied with the short- or long-term results).