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Culture War Roundup for the week of June 26, 2023

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the literal meaning is that there can be no distinctions whatsoever.

You've said this, yes... but you haven't given a reason for why it's the literal meaning. Whereas I have given at least three reasons for why it should not be considered the literal meaning. But at this point I am pretty sure you understand that, and are just pretending otherwise.

After all, if taken literally, the Equal Protection clause would invalidate all laws, because all laws treat some groups differently than others. "No trucks allowed in tunnel" discrim[in]ates against truck drivers, and "people under 16 can't get a driver's license" discrim[in]ates against those under 16.

This, from 10+ layers back, seemed the line that made the most sense to me. If we add, perhaps, that "no murdering" discriminates against murderers, that would seem to forbid all laws.

That said, this took me time to think through, so I do think that @Gdanning is too quick to assume insincerity in this case. (nor do I see where you conceded his point, as he says)

  1. Yes, laws which forbid murder discrimate against those who commit murders. That is perhaps made most clear by the fact that the law punishes murderers more severely than it does those who commit manslaughter, and of course those who act in self-defense.

  2. The only point I said he conceded was that he is only pretending not to understand.

Yeah, he said that, but it's pure ipse dixit. He think it is "because all laws treat some groups differently than others". Ok. Does somewhere in the EPC, it say, "Laws can't treat some groups differently than others"? No! It doesn't say that! He just made it up! Show me where, in the literal text of the EPC, where it says, "Laws can't treat some groups differently than others."

You've said this, yes

And yet in your previous reply, you said the exact opposite. Thanks for proving my point.

Bullshit. Where? Now you're just resorting to lying about what I've said?

EDIT: So you don't forget:

you haven't given a reason for why [your preferred literal meaning is] the literal meaning. Whereas I have given at least three reasons for why it should not be considered the literal meaning. But at this point I am pretty sure you understand that, and are just pretending otherwise.

Read more carefully. Both my words and your own.

Try reading at all. I have been abundantly clear.

you haven't given a reason for why [your preferred literal meaning is] the literal meaning. Whereas I have given at least three reasons for why it should not be considered the literal meaning. But at this point I am pretty sure you understand that, and are just pretending otherwise.