If I am a private business owner why should the State have any authority to

[ColinAndy]

dictate who I hire on MY staff? ...This question also applies to renters I want to rent apartments to...Why should I have to answer to anyone? For godsakes, I do not owe anything to anyone aside from the people that I rent to....."I don't like your shoes" would be a suitable answer to people I deny...What the hell gives the State the authority to say what/who I employ for whatever reason?

[tem]

I completely agree. Just set the highest standards and put them in your employee guidelines (or renters qualifications) and get help from a lawyer to make it legit, and screw affirmative action!!

[Shamrocks]

The so called anti-racists ultra libs, say you don't have the Constitutional right. Why take in a hard working family of white people w/ 4 kids, when you can take in a black welfare 'mother' w/ 5 kids? The gov will pay their rent, you'll just be stuck repairing the place after they tear it up.
Is my sarcasm showing?
If you want your Constitutional rights back, vote GOP.

[granniegrump]

The constitution of the US and the US Code; the constitution of your state and the state code; the codes and regulations of your city/county.

If you don't like it VOTE.

[Paul S]

realistically it is a state issue. In Washington State you can refuse to hire a person, or fire them, for wearing the wrong color of socks or because there is a personality conflict. If the State decides that your reason is "not for cause" you have to allow them to collect unemployment if you fire them but the State doesn't tell you who you can hire unless there is an age requirement to handle the products you sell or attire is inappropriate for those under a certain age. Child protection laws and worker safety laws do apply and restrict the employer somewhat but for valid reason.
Without knowing what state you are in or the kind of business you run and how many employees you have it is not possible to give you an answer that is more taylored to the specifics.
By the way, if an owner doesn't want to rent to someone all they have to say is " I don't wish to rent to you because I believe our personalities will conflict. If the owner says I won't rent to you because you are Italian, then you put yourself in trouble for human rights violations.
Paul

[ChrisIsGirly]

How are people you rent apartments to your "employees"??? Renters give you money, you give employees money. I don't see the confusion. In general, you can rent property to anyone you like, or not, at your discretion.

[figgypower]

In a purely capitalistic society, you would be completely right. Of course, in a purely capitalistic society if people consider your reasons for denial absurd you probably won't have any business. Then there would be no welfare.

If you take advantage of the State's services, it's arguable that you are entering into a "contract" with the State in question to follow its rules (even if some of these rules are incredibly stupid).

From the research I've done, pure capitalism is not always the most efficient route due to things such as lack of complete information, outright misinformation, and unfair markets (racism can make markets really inefficient). The American version of capitalism is probably the most balanced in the world (it's why we're still the richest country in the planet); that's not to say we don't have serious problems and we couldn't make our version of capitalism more effective.

There's plenty to improve and I'm sure you have some legitimate gripes. Nag your senators and congress-critters. If you make enough of a fuss and/or get media attention, I hear they get scared.