| First, no, the Constitution doesn't protect me from punishment from insulting someone. It protects me from the government punishing me for protected free speech, but that's merely a subset of things I can say that would offend others.
If I become particularly offensive on this board, can I not be punished by banishment? (We've seen it happen.)
Sure, we could find examples of SOME consequences that I'm protected against for SOME actions, but that doesn't change my point. Nothing in the Constitution says I get to live consequence free.
I certainly understand your question and agree that it's a rational discussion to have as a society.
But I'd also suggest that there should be some sort of limit to how much responsibility we should take off the individual and place on society at large.
If you agree with that, then we're on the right path and maybe it's just a matter of negotiating that limit.
(BTW, if it matters to you, I'm not religious. My desire to encourage personal responsibility and retain personal rights comes from a purely secular philosophy.) |
