It’s hot out, and I’m thinking of ants.
Specifically, I’m thinking of the City of Phoenix functionary who told Dana Crow-Smith and her fellow Christian proselytizers that they could not hand out bottled water in the 112-degree heat. She and her fellow “good Samaritans” lacked a permit for vending.
Though, as Brian Doherty noticed on Reason’s website, she wasn’t vending. She was giving.
One needs a vendor’s license to give?
Thankfully, lawyers have come to the rescue, claiming that the city has violated the good Christian lady’s “First Amendment right to freely exercise her religion, her Fourteenth Amendment due process rights, as well as Arizona’s Free Exercise of Religion Act.”
Specifically, Ms. Crow-Smith demands a formal apology from the city, hoping, she says, to avoid a lawsuit. She just wants to be able to hand out water as she spreads the gospel. “I don’t think it’s even about religious beliefs.” she said. “I think anybody should be able to give away water on the sidewalk to anybody.”
Anarchy! Chaos!
Government isn’t about freedom, or even “nice.” On the one hand, governments increasingly force people to behave like the Gospel’s Good Samaritan; on the other, if you spontaneously take on the role yourself, government folk want you to get permission, first.
Call it insect logic. Above the ant colony in T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, there is written the ants’ totalitarian motto:
EVERYTHING NOT FORBIDDEN IS COMPULSORY.
Hot or cold, we must not let our governments take such insectoid philosophy as a principle. (Oh, and Phoenix? Apologize.)
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
7 replies on “Permit Needed”
The East is ahead of us in this regard. In Japan, when someone in a public office does something to so dishonor their office and their oath and the power and responsiblity that they are stewards of, the responsible parties will still frequently, honorably kill themselves. In China, the government will do it for you.
Here in the US, the folks responsible for such usurpation of power and derelicition of the idea of public service, these people do not even get a letter of reprimand, let alone something that affects their 401K.
No consequences for impaired judgement. That is the normal recipe for the corruption that is so inevitable with power.
What would be reasonable? What about if the idiot that decided this was required to stand out there WITH theis nice Christian lady in the heat and to help her hand out some of the water to fellow human beings. What if that idiot was requested to help her fund the water gifts in order for them to continue to enjoy the largesse of a government job?
Never happen. It’s like trying to explain colors to a blind person.
If the woman was JUST giving away the bottled water-fine; but if she was giving it with her (also) giving a “sppech” (for want of a better term) about her religion, and trying to get one to go to her church, then I have a problem with this.
Besides, how in Phoenix is out on the streets (I gather walking) when it is 112?
That ( above) said, I agree that there was a great over reaction by the government.
Why not worry about the potential terrorists; drug dealers; etc?
Right.
Who does she think she is?
A lobbyist?
[…] you do these days can get you in trouble with regulators, from serving water without the proper liquor license to (I kid you not) throwing a birthday party without the proper happiness-making […]
Jay, what’s wrong with people offering something (free water) for something in return (listen to my appeal to go to my church)?
There is no force used and no harm committed.
Can’t we prohibit government from interfering in capitalist acts between consenting adults?
Our constitution used to protect this freedom. Now, our hope is to restore our freedoms via the ballot box. So vote for less government and more freedom.
And IMHO, that means not voting for either Obama or Romney, which leaves the choice of Gary Johnson, who’ll get my vote.
[…] For more on Dana Crow-Smith, see my “Permit Needed” […]