XPost: alt.america, alt.politics.religion, alt.politics.usa.constitution   
   XPost: misc.education   
   From: Then-Destroy-Everything@Blackhole.NebulaX.com   
      
   On 10/21/2010 8:11 AM, Josh wrote:   
   > On 10/20/2010 6:06 PM, Peter Franks wrote:   
   >> On 10/20/2010 12:11 PM, Abel wrote:   
   >>> Separation of church and state refers to the limits our Constitution   
   >>> places on the power of the government (both federal and state) to   
   >>> legislate about religion....   
   >>   
   >> "*Congress* shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,   
   >> or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" (emphasis added)   
   >>   
   >> Congress refers to the federal body organized and authorized in Article   
   >> I of the Constitution.   
   >>   
   >> Can you point out where the term "Congress" mutates to "government"?   
   >>   
   >> Can you point out where the this specific limit in Amendment I is   
   >> extended to the states?   
   >   
   > Are you arguing the states can prohibit the free exercise of religion   
   > (e.g., criminalize Judaism)?  or abridge the freedom of speech and the   
   > press (e.g., shut down a newspaper it disagrees with)?  or abridge the   
   > right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the   
   > Government for a redress of grievances (e.g., imprison Tea Party   
   > protesters)?   
      
   Doesn't it read that way?   
      
   Or do you simply interpret what ever you want....  The fear was of an   
   all powerful Federal Government like a KING.  States still had "rights"   
      
   If a State writes laws that you don't like, you pack your bags and move.   
      
   And when NY raised taxes on millionaires, their millionaires took their   
   money, packed it up and moved away to places that don't penalize   
   success....  but you can't move away from the Federal government.  That   
   is why the word "CONGRESS" in the first amendment.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)