Harris' probable running-mate, PA

I knew very little about Governor Shapiro, rumored to be Harris's choice of running mate. This article provides some information, and some is disturbing.

Shapiro's "high popularity among Republicans" leads me to worry that his Republican supporters may like him for rational reasons — such as stands which are not progressive. The article shows several that he does, or may, hold. Where we do not know, we should press him to clarify. But we won't have a chance to do that.

The most dangerous of the possible positions reported in this article is being too cooperative with planet roasters. The priority goal of every country must be to prevent the destruction of the natural world.

The most unjust of the stances listed in the article is the intent to restrict the right to boycott. In general, people and most organizations should have the right to boycott people, businesses and countries because of their actions.

There are some exceptions. Government agencies, and companies whose services are essential, must not be allowed to deny their services to any person or organization — they must be common carriers.

Boycotts of persons based on demographic characteristics that have (or should have) nondiscrimination protection ought to be prohibited, because such boycotts would amount to discrimination. This includes discrimination by national origin.

But aside from such cases, boycotts should be permitted.

The State of Massachusetts once passed a law to boycott companies that traded with Burma. I had the fortune to meet Assemblyman Byron Rushing, its champion, and I told him that this law had made me proud of Massachusetts. (It was later struck down by the Supreme Court which said it was preempted by World Trade Organization treaty, a business-supremacy treaty.)