Pursuant to my last post
What are we prepared to do? Howsabout we take a page from Hobby Lobby — with its icky social conservative values, and embarrassing Christian pieties — and stand up for its liberty by simply denying the government and the courts their usurped authority?
“Hobby Lobby Defies Obama Administration with Civil Disobedience for Religious Liberty”:
Now that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has denied Hobby Lobby’s application for an emergency injunction protecting them from Obamacare’s HHS Mandate on abortion and birth control, Hobby Lobby has decided to defy the federal government to remain true to their religious beliefs, at enormous risk and financial cost.
Hobby Lobby is wholly owned and controlled by the Green family, who are evangelical Christians. The Greens are committed to running their business in accordance with their Christian faith, believing that God wants them to conduct their professional business in accordance with the family’s understanding of the Bible. Hobby Lobby’s mission statement includes, “Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company … consistent with Biblical principles.”
The HHS Mandate goes into effect for Hobby Lobby on Jan. 1, 2013. The Greens correctly understand that some of the drugs the HHS Mandate requires them to cover at no cost in their healthcare plans cause abortions.
Today Hobby Lobby announced that they will not comply with this mandate to become complicit in abortion, which the Greens believe ends an innocent human life. Given Hobby Lobby’s size (it has 572 stores employing more than 13,000 people), by violating the HHS Mandate, it will be subject to over $1.3 million in fines per day. That means over $40 million in fines in January alone. If their case takes another ten months to get before the Supreme Court—which would be the earliest it could get there under the normal order of business—the company would incur almost a half-billion dollars in fines. And then of course the Supreme Court would have to write an opinion in what would likely be a split decision with dissenters, which could easily take four or six months and include hundreds of millions of dollars in additional penalties.
This is civil disobedience, consistent with America’s highest traditions when moral issues are at stake. The Greens are a law-abiding family. They have no desire to defy their own government. But as the Founders launched the American Revolution because they believed the British government was violating their rights, the Greens believe that President Barack Obama and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are commanding the Greens to sin against God, and that no government has the lawful authority to do so.
[...]
This issue of civil disobedience is never to be undertaken lightly. The Bible teaches Christians to submit to all legitimate governmental authority (e.g., Romans 13:1), and so a person can only disobey the government when there is no other way to obey God.
But here in America, the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and in its First Amendment it protects against a government establishment of an official religion and separately protects the free exercise of religion. On top of that, Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specifically add an additional layer of protection against government actions that violate a person’s religious beliefs.
The HHS Mandate is a gross violation of the religious beliefs of the Green family. The issue before the courts here is whether the Greens religious-liberty rights include running their secular, for-profit business consistent with their religious beliefs. In other words, is religious liberty just what you do in church on a Sunday morning, or does it include what you do during the week at your job?
The Greens are now putting their fortunes on the line to do what they believe is right. The courts should side with them, affirming a broad scope of religious liberty under the Constitution and RFRA. And the Supreme Court should resolve this matter with dispatch in their favor.
Millions of Christians across the country feel exactly the same way as the Greens. The Obama administration has issued a statist command that is a declaration of war on people of faith who object to abortion, and civil disobedience could break out all over the country unless the courts set this matter right—and quickly.
Of course, it shouldn’t just be Christians. If the government can be so arrogant as to take away one basic foundational right from Christians — or at least attempt to trivialize it and put it into a box (think campus “free speech zones”) — it will be only be emboldened should it be able to cast Christians as backward biblethumpers clinging to their religion at the expense of the Greater Good and “tolerance.”
And that’s been the attempt, aided in many ways by our own “side,” many of whom so fear getting any of that Holy Spirit stain on their sophisticated, worldly J Crew blazers that they actively attacked their own party candidates when those candidates made too much noise about their religious beliefs.
Yet as I argued at the time, it is precisely those beliefs, assaulted so frequently by the secularists and statists and courts, that, defended against governmental overstep, provide the very blueprint to resisting state overreach.
Ironic though it may seem to our own bien pensant, it is their reluctance to stand with the bitterclingers that gives the left the aid it needs to beat back the limited government that same bien pensant “conservative” crowd claims to fight for.
Let me go on record here as saying, my own agnosticism aside, thank God for the true believers. Because they, along with the gun rights advocates, are standing in the way of the complete government takeover of everything we once understood about individual liberty and autonomy.
Bless their goofy, unhip piety, I say.
(h/t JHo)
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“I am not required to obey an unconstitutional law.”
Welcome to the gulag.
related
Judge Slaps Down EPA Bid to Regulate Water as a Pollutant
Which is to say that social government is moral government which is to say that all social government is, in the end and/or by degrees from the beginning, a violation of the separation clause. Consider federal education, federal medicine, federal retirement, federal economic management, federal “safety”, and so on seemingly forever.
And there’s a superfluous t in biblethumpers.
We’re going there tomorrow as part of a “buycott” to support their stand. And we’re going to explicitly mention that to the staffers.
My irony meter has been permanently pegged off the scale as government wants to violate the religious beliefs of business owners at will, but also imposes law mandating business owners do everything in their power to accommodate the religious beliefs of employees.
Dale
Hobby Lobby is about 20 miles from my home (actually across the street from my work) but I’m still going to drive there tomorrow and buy something.
It’s a twenty mile round trip for us, too. But worth it.
“I notice your ship is called ‘Sibelius’. You were stationed in Washington at the end of the war; Battle of NFIB v Sebelius took place there if I recall… Seems odd that you would name your ship after a battle you were on the wrong side of.”
“May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.”
Hobby Lobby is awesome. And for you dudes: HO trains, remote controlled airplanes and Estes rockets.
I like some of the options under the “civil disobedience” section in this article on going Galt in 2013, particularly the “take a job with the government, then don’t do it” and “complete all government forms incompletely and illegibly” ones.
Sex (M/F/G/B/T/I): Yes, please.
Race: Human, Mark I
Address: Well, I like “Oh Lord and Master”, myself.
I wish it was hobby town. I could talk myself into buying lots of 1/35 Tamiya WW2 and post war kits. Or Dragon. Or even those weird little plastic 1/72 Zveda kits.
Hobby Lobby has charcoal and sketchpads I guess. I haven’t tried to draw art-titties for at least ten years. Or fruit and pots. Or I could try to get into caligraphy. Or watercolors.
Shit, I won’t lie. I wish it was Chick-Fil-A. I could core me a 12 piece nuggs and a sandwich and pass it off as the good fight. Hell yeah! Sorry Bill Quick.
mojo, I could go with learning Esperanto or Latin, then demanding that the gubmint provide me with forms in that language.
For teh fairnesses, of course.
I think your future looks a lot like the future of Mobile Suit Gundam. Only no giant robots or space colonies. And a lot less tech and food and medicine than today. But otherwise pretty similar. There will be a big dumb fascist monster global state and short lived, vivacious, but completely amoral independence movements that form savage little baronies that preach a kind of delusional idealistic ultra-nationalism based on concepts of manifest destiny, and then relentlessly expand until they get exhausted and fail enough for the Monster state to destabilize and stop. This will happen every forty years or so in ten or fifteen year spurts. And the monster state will get poorer and dumber and poorer and dumber until there are way more vikings and savage despondent masses than bureaucratic huscarls. Then anarchy. Then feudalism as the vikings become lords. Then the lords will form “real ” kingdoms and alliances and the kings will need merchants to pay their bills, and the merchants will take over again starting the whole thing over again. Only with more telecommunications than last time.
“mojo, I could go with learning Esperanto or Latin, then demanding that the gubmint provide me with forms in that language.”
Klingon, Sindarin, Nadsat, Jive, 1337, Vrill thought shape, etc.
Ascii binary ?
I think you’re onto something, paleo. In addition to the forms, we can demand the gubmint provide us with translators when we have to go to the SS offices or talk with our IRS physicians. Or they’re racist against us.
Their stand is odd on religious grounds. I support people opposing government interference in religious views, of course, and am no fan of government mandated healthcare in any form, but being evangelical is not exactly congruent with being anti-birth control.
The philosophical restrictions on use of birth control are traditionally identified with Roman Catholicism and Mormonism in Christian circles, and orthodox/conservative Judaism and Islam. The latter two don’t much annunciate their views on it, other than it’s artificial and in opposition to gender norms.
The Roman Catholics and Mormons have essentially the same views on sex and marriage, but Mormons actually have some doctorinal latitude on birth control; Catholics don’t.
Being raised RC, birth control–and broadly, sex–is a joke; everybody is screwing as much as everywhere else. But still, if you go to the schools, it IS a thing.
I’ve since drifted towards the Evangelical side and it’s different. While the concerns about pre marital sex are real, the use of birth control among married couples is totally accepted and encouraged. The pill, rubbers, whatever.
So I dont get this Hobby Lobby thing being couched in religious terms. The family has to be in a truly small offshoot of some group, I s’pose.
Address: Well, I like “Oh Lord and Master”, myself.
“Dread Lord Squid” has a certain ring to it, dontcha think?
So I dont get this Hobby Lobby thing being couched in religious terms.
How else can they approach it? They can’t just say “We want no part in State-mandated infanticide,” because the government actually has the power to force you to kill babies (at least if you’re a male and you’ve sent in your draft card). So you look for shelter in the Bill of Rights.
Frankly, I don’t care if they belong to the Cult of the Red Mantis. So long as they’re fighting the good fight, I’ll count them as valuable allies.
It’s Oklahoma City based, Roddy. Lord only knows what they believe. But true believers, they are.
The Greens don’t oppose contraception, but they are (as Evangelical Christians) opposed to abortion and the insurance they offer their employees will not pay for the morning-after pill.
I guess they could quit offering insurance all together. It would certainly be cheaper for them in the long run, but it sounds like they have picked a hill to die on. It would seen that there ought to be a Senator or Congresscritter or six or eight of them who would stand up and be counted.
I guess I read too many novels.
leigh
I guess they could quit offering insurance all together
A feature, not a bug, of ObamaCare’s mandate.
Not anti-birth control. Anti-morning after pill. Or anti-abortion. In the sense of being complicit in paying for it. Others can make the choice, and evangelicals would object, but the only people using the law to force their beliefs on others are those insisting evangelicals be required to pay for that choice, simply because they decided to open up a family business that sells fake mountains and specialty paint brushes.
Kinda OT, but this article is very interesting. Seems our benevolent rulers aren’t happy corrupting just our own concept of self-reliance.
A feature, not a bug, of ObamaCare’s mandate.
Of course. That’s why I say HL has picked their hill to die on: they want to make sure their employees are insured and not by Ocare. It shows they have balls and that Congress does not.
Of course, Hobby Lobby may soon be out of business due to the usurious fines being levied against them.
At least I can replenish my knitting supplies when they have a going out of business sale.
“the usurious fines”
Ah, so that’s what we’re calling a tax now.
petey
link
dear petey,
we aren’t trying to “remake the world”. we are try to find a strategery to take our weak hand and use to our advantage. here’s my idiot flyover country opinion: orangeguy passes a balanced budget in the next 3 weeks and sends it to reid. when baracky wants the debt ceiling raised in feb. tell baracky to pass a budget 1st.
- Its only a tax when its illegal to call it a levy. Its only a fine when its illegal to call it a tax. Its only a levy when it illegal to call it a fine.
- In other words its none other than our old friend we fled ftom under British rule. Pure and simply a tribute owed to the crown no matter how much lipstick they put on the Royal pig.
OT
Hey Leigh,
Boomer Sooner! I’ll be rooting for OU in the Cotton Bowl tonight; can’t stand A&M.
I think the last time I rooted for OU was in the 1988 Orange Bowl, when they played Miami for the national championship.
- Just for shits and giggles, Jug ears Hawain joy ride is now approaching 20 mil.
so ted cruz was on levin moments ago and mentioned toomey’s bill reid wouldn’t consider vis a vis debt ceiling. orangedude should pass that one too and send it to reid with a budget.
really pointing out that reid hasn’t passed a budget for 4 years is good thing. it gives baracky a fall guy.
That Wehner quote newrouter linked is illustrative of the core problem afflicting the inside the beltway mindset.
Republicans are under the mistaken impression that they can pick and choose their battles when the fact of the matter is their battles are picked and chosen for them.
Boomer Sooner! I’ll be rooting for OU in the Cotton Bowl tonight; can’t stand A&M.
I think the last time I rooted for OU was in the 1988 Orange Bowl, when they played Miami for the national championship.
Bless your heart, Mike. We are going to kick their ass.
I owe ya next season.
The Roman Catholics and Mormons have essentially the same views on sex and marriage, but Mormons actually have some doctorinal latitude on birth control; Catholics don’t.
Being raised RC, birth control–and broadly, sex–is a joke; everybody is screwing as much as everywhere else. But still, if you go to the schools, it IS a thing.
The LDS don’t prohibit birth control or artificial conception. We prohibit abortion, fornication, and adultery, and we mean it. People get excommunicated for sexual misconduct all the time. (But after one year of minding your P’s & Q’s, you can be rebaptized and all is forgotten.)
If the gubmint were forcing Greenpeace to sell baby-seal slippers, then the point would be clear enough to everyone.
Yeah, Reid strikes me as a guy willing to be infamous, along the lines of that Sandy Hook fuckhead…
14-13 A&M at the half, but I think OU now has momentum on their side!
” Yeah, Reid strikes me as a guy willing to be infamous, along the lines of that Sandy Hook fuckhead…”
if you want it it can be done. you-sound like a pussy and don’t want to battle thugs. fu petey
so the LBascom :
how do you play this game at this point exactly? give us some details of your brilliance of stratergygygy!
LBascom :
nah nah can’t use alinsky. nah nah can’t use “reid who hasn’t passed a budget in 4 yrs” nah nah idiot
loser rino
Argh. Get with the program Sooners.
Being raised RC, birth control–and broadly, sex–is a joke; everybody is screwing as much as everywhere else. But still, if you go to the schools, it IS a thing.
Not all of us beadsqueezers have capitulated on birth control–some of which is abortifacient, not so by the way.
Says the father of six.
Oh, and palaeomerus–Hobby Lobby carries models, including Dragon. At least the one near us does. My son got the U.S.S. Missouri for Christmas.
Oops, looks like I spoke too soon. 27-13 A&M. >:-(
It’s still 3rd quarter.
True, and OU offense is potent enough to catch up quickly.
Dale, people should do the natural family planning thing. I wanted three kids, got three kids.
People think it’s the rhythm method, which it isn’t. People who use the RM are called Parents.
All you none fisheaters can order a book or learn about it at your local RC church class for adults.
The morning after pill is what they object to, it being post-conception and all.
faith, constitution what’s the diff?
Game over.
What are you carrying on about?
I’m saying Reid is happy to be a useful idiot and a martyr for Obama (piss be upon him).
And I’m a social conservative, not a Republican. Much less a RINO. Get You’re slander right…
It’s their innate, hard-to-stamp-out (no matter how hard we try!) morality. For whatever reason, these evangelicals see post-conception contraception as nuanced abortion, and oppose it. Right-to-life, or whatever they call cell clumps that haven’t been assigned tax ID’s just yet. Silly fundies, they know nothing of SCIENCE!.
“What are you carrying on about?
I’m saying Reid is happy to be a useful idiot and a martyr for Obama (piss be upon him). ”
Heh. The NRCC has welcomed new Democrats to the House with a ‘Nancy Pelosi Obedience School Lapdog Kit’.
Humor, knife-edged, is the best Alinsky medicine. Now if they’d just evolve a spinal column.
” Get You’re slander right…”
you are rino own it
I’m not even republican in name anymore. I had to bow out because I can’t shove my head up my own ass far enough to deserve the honor any more.
How can anyone be RINO when there was never any R?
puRitans are part of the pRoblem. Time to #AbandonTheGOP AFAIC.
Argh!! Double argh. Curse you, Johnny Football.
Dumb ass, I was agreeing with you.
Quit Bogarting…
Meh to these Midwestern teams. I’m'a waiting for Monday Night Football. Go Touchdown Jesus~!
Heh. Smokin’ and not sharin’ again?
Great, now I’m going to have to put up with insufferable A&M fans thumping their chests for the next nine months.
*headdesk*
A&M is for those who couldn’t get into Tech, Mike. Where else are you going to find engineering students who can’t build a damned bonfire and have been banned from ever building one again?
“Dumb ass, I was agreeing with you.
Quit Bogarting…”
please do tell with vienna pastries
Lee is not a RINO. Where are you getting this? Bottom of the glass talking again?
Ha! Indeed, and where else would engineering students do this to protect against a hurricane?
I’m an honorary Tea sip and a loud mouth and maroon is the color of the devil’s pajamas and all that, but I kind of cringed at the bonfire reference. That was a sad thing. UT even canceled the Hex rally over it.
I dunno. Maybe A&M makes Whitman tower jokes. But the bonfire collapse was bad times.
yes mam:
“I’m saying Reid is happy to be a useful idiot and a martyr for Obama (piss be upon him). ”
why aren’t you rinos attacking reid or mcconnell?
That sounds kind of like an attack or at least a negative sentiment about Reid to me.
Maybe A&M makes Whitman tower jokes. But the bonfire collapse was bad times.
Yes indeed. Both were very tragic and not funny in the least.
I’m not a RINO, either nr. I’d have to be a republican which I am not.
yes mam next
yo rinos hit the orangeguy’s phone on monday for a budget AND a debt ceiling thing and an epa restraining order. do it for the children!
I’m pretty sure the founding fathers created the 2nd amendment specifically to encourage the murder of children. Because logic. And smart.
Nice work Janet.
G’nite everybody. Mama has a new book to read.