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Guess What? I Own a Monopoly!
In another convoluted ruling against a Christian refusing service to LBGTs because of religious beliefs, a three-judge panel came up with a doozy. Here’s the looney statement from the article:
[Judge] Briscoe asserted that Smith has something ‘similar to a monopoly’ over her own creative talents.
In other words, web designers, cake bakers, artists, etc., have a monopoly on their own talents, thus any creative person must provide the good or service because it cannot be obtained anywhere else.
No doubt the case will go before the full panel. In fact, almost all controversial cases end up going before the full panel, which makes me question why we even bother with three-judge panels.
Published in Politics
In our area there is significant Black entrepreneurial activity. There are dozens of HR consulting and training outfits eagerly seeking contracts with colleges, K-12 school districts, and companies.
Excellent! Now, all we need are some activists to do the same thing, and sue . . .
Of course. I will force him to do it because I ain’t got no rhythm . . .
Exactly!
And we force Alec Baldwin to play Trump!
According to the ruling, you can. Meryl Streep must play the role I wrote for her because she has a monopoly on her talent . . .
If this stands, @garyrobbins could be forced to represent Trump !
And professional ethics would bar him from maligning his client.
Mwah-ha-ha-ha!
Thanks for clearing that up, Rodin.
This feels like an attack on the capitalist system which requires an arms-length (not compelled) agreement between two parties consisting of offer, acceptance, delivery and payment. This mechanism sets prices, generally, which is the genius of the system. It’s possible that Masterpiece Bakery would’ve accepted the gay cake gig for a couple of million dollars, but not at his normal price. This would send the normal customer to another baker. The customer’s offer overrules all in the ruling.
Why limit Alex Baldwin’s ability to refuse a role portraying Trump in a favorable light. How about if I want to hire him to paint my house because of his unique skill set? He’s offering his services, after all.
I want to hire him to paint my house while acting like Donald Trump. Let him complain about my color choices and working conditions.
But he would deliberately decline to represent Trump in a competent manner, So Trump is best to pass on his assistance.
I would argue that it does take additional creativity and significantly more mental energy to create a gay cake.
Yeah, inserting the candle into the space between the layers is difficult. Writing “Armageddon” on the top in a way that blinks when the candle is inserted is especially hard.
No, I mean just the creativity involved. It’s worth a million.
Only at a gay cake shop. Which is why they insist Jack Philips bake it for them. His prices are significantly cheaper.
You are evil . . .
(I like your thinking!)
How about a patron demanding real bacon at a restaurant owned and operated by Muslims, and catering to their Islamic community. Serve it, or you are a hater and some type of -phobe!
So, it now appears that I myself am a monopoly of sorts, so I anticipate federal action soon to break me up. May they display the wisdom of Solomon as they attempt this…
What a terrible, terrible, terrible opinion out of the 10th Circuit! There is a good discussion of it, and the need for the Supreme Court to revisit and expand its Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado opinion at the Advisory Opinions Podcast at The Dispatch.
Wow. Too bad I won’t give The Dispatch the web traffic. I am certain there is better analysis somewhere else on the internet. Maybe at a place that one joins for the price of a cup of coffee?