Automaton Nation

On the surface this seems silly, but is it really?

The state's top civil rights official has ruled that taverns cannot offer discounts to women on "ladies nights," agreeing with a man who claimed such gender-based promotions discriminated against men.

David R. Gillespie said it was not fair for women to get into the Coastline nightclub for free and receive discounted drinks while men paid a $5 cover charge and full price for drinks.

In his ruling Tuesday, J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, director of the state Division on Civil Rights, rejected arguments by the nightclub that ladies nights were a legitimate promotion. Commercial interests do not override the "important social policy objective of eradicating discrimination," he ruled.

Evidence of an uberlitigious society?

Perhaps.

But this is where we are. It seems that if you think you own a physically-tangible "bricks and mortar" business, you're mistaken. You simply rent the space from the government. You cater to whomever they say, you hire whomever they say, you pay whatever they say, and, if you are a bar, you sell only what they permit. It's like the pot is done melting and now we're being poured into molds.

Identical molds.

It makes me want to start a new blog: Automaton Nation :about Americans having their autonomy shaved off, like pieces of Ash on robotic lathes at the Louisville Slugger factory.

Automaton Nation.

It's a good name for a blog, don'tcha think? Anyone want in? Group blog.

'Ladies Night' Discount Axed in N.J. Bars