Well, at least you can admit that the regulations on race are unconstitutional.
Since many businesses are large corporations, it's pretty stupid to think that any group would be excluded from having access to any particular product, particularly staple products; gas, food, clothing, etc. Add to that the advent of e-commerce and we can quickly see how stupid and inconceivable this notion becomes.
Many people are "libertarians" except for when it comes to an infringement that suits their personal views. Be it drugs, abortion, race, homosexuality, whatever. The fact is that as a libertarian, you must swallow the fact that different people have different views, and they are entitled to those views, and to act upon those views so long as it doesn't infringe upon the rights of others. Not being able to sit at any particular "lunch counter" or shop at any particular (privately owned) store, is not a constitutional right. Abolishment of any discrimination whatsoever in any public venue or organization is absolutely constitutional. The only public discrimination we currently have is against euro americans- white people, "my people". Said discrimination is every bit as unconstitutional as Jim Crow was, yet any challenge to it is slandered as "racist".
Wanting to end discrimination against whites is not "racist". Wanting to restore the freedom of private individuals and organizations, to reinstate the right to contract and freedom of association is not "racist". Sure, you could prohibit it on public land, like you can the hooker signs, maybe you could even prohibit signs which said "no blacks", or "kill whitey" in public view. However, the prohibition of private entities to do business with anyone they so choose on any basis they so choose is highly unconstitutional. The government has no place in making business decisions for private entities.
I personally would have no problem with some black folks having a black only establishment. I also wouldn't presume it to mean that they wanted one simply because they hate white people. However, I'd extend the same right to white people. Yes, maybe white businesses would receive backlash from the broader community for a racially based policy. If so, oh well... That was their decision and their right.
Quote from Trader7793:
I guess that I am going to have to disagree with you Libertarians who say that business owners (who serve the publice) should be able to deny service to customers based on their race. I always thought that I was more of a Libertarian than anything else, but I guess not.
I have to admit that nothing in the constitution grants the right to eat a burger at a specific lunch counter. However, I do think that local govts, state govts and the Federal govt can exercise powers to regulate commerce. Governmental bodies need the power to license businesses in order to promote commerce, as well as to regulate community behavior. This is what keeps someone from opening a brothel, or gambling hall right in your neighborhood. This is what keeps some streetwalker from walking down the street in front of your kids with a sign that says "Pussy for Sale". Without rules governing businesses and their customer practices, chaos would eventually ensue and the US would become weaker and further divided.
Now during the "Jim Crow" era the primary races, in the United States, were blacks and whites. Allowing private businesses to serve only the races they wanted was a much more workable situation back then...prior to so many other racial groups coming into the country. Even so it was a very negative practice for all involved. Whites who wanted to serve everyone were often prevented from doing so because they would face reprecussions from other whites. Once the US became deeply involved in fighting the USSR, many politicans were worried about seperate Americas weaking the nation's overall strength. The politicans and the public as a whole decided that it was more important to start unifying the nation than it was to allow the local burger joint to have "whites only" signs up. Of course for some, being able to racially discriminate is their ultimate goal in life, but the nation as a whole made a choice to go in a different direction.
It would be interesting to see if those of you who support the idea that private businesses should have the right to serve only the groups they want to...would still have it if you had to travel to Southern California with your families and could not get service at a Mexican restaurant, or get gas at the Korean service station. How would you feel if your children were unable to buy a toy they wanted or candy at certain stores because that was for Vietnamese only? Back during the 1930's, 40's and 50s most whites probably did not have a desire to go to black owned businesses, so many of them that lived in the South did not have a problem with Jim Crow. Whites did not feel like they were missing out on anything. Do you think they would feel the same way if they constantly encountered signs all over major cities (for private businesses) that said "No Whites"? How might your children feel about that?
Under the current laws you can create a bar or restaurant that serves only members of a private club or association, and that would effectively keep non-whites from eating at your business, but it would harm you with the wider white population. I am willing to bet that if you opened up a business in places like Montanta you would not have to be burdened with a lot of black people patronizing it. Hell, if you called it KKK Burgers and Fries you could open it up almost anywhere and be assured that most of your customers would be white.