Originally Posted by
Yonivore
Except when you discriminate on the basis of an "accident" of birth; then, it is a bad thing -- and a dirty word. Discriminating against someone because they are of a particular race, sex, physical handicap, etc... is wrong. Period.
Now, having said that, should it be illegal? I don't believe government should stop people from discriminating -- outside of government. Originally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 only applied to government agencies. Somewhere along the way, the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution was tortured out of all recognition to drag private commercial enterprise into the mix.
A person has the right, under the first amendment, to associate with whomever they want. That right should extend to employers having the right to enter into any employment agreement they wish, with whomever they want. And, they should also have the right to offer their services or goods to anyone they like -- or withhold them from anyone they like.