Canadian Politics Today

I don't think this was meant to apply to individuals. As for free markets - don't make me laugh. In a free market there would not be any grants to people whose houses had been flooded out. It would be up to them to repair them. Too many people build in flood zones and then when they get flooded expect other people to pick up the tab. Sorry, but no.

But it does apply to individuals. And it should not apply to businesses either. If I don't want to do business with a certain nation, it's in my rights not to do so. Now if this goes into law where I cannot refuse to do business with Israel, what does that really mean? And why does this need to exist?

It's a small municipality in Texas. TEXAS doesn't know how to govern.

This is not just Texas it seem. Which would blow the notion of it being a simply mistake.

Yup. And it's the government as a client which can then choose to boycott you.

I have no problem with being boycotted as a business/individual if I am dealing with terrorists or nations on the US's **** list. But I never have seen it where you are FORCED to support another nation and you could be at risk if you refuse to do business with Israeli firms.

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/anti-israel-policies-are-anti-texas-policies

Texas Governor

Governor Greg Abbott today signed into law House Bill 89 (HB 89), known as the Anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions) bill, which prohibits all state agencies from contracting with, and certain public funds from investing in, companies that boycott Israel. The Governor hosted the bill signing at the Jewish Community Center in Austin. Today also marks Israel’s Independence Day.

As Israel's number one trading partner in the United States, Texas is proud to reaffirm its support for the people of Israel and we will continue to build on our historic partnership. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies, and we will not tolerate such actions against an important ally.

Supporting Israel by choice is one thing. Supporting Israel by way of law, making it illegal for you to boycott any Israeli firm is a slap in the face.

Again, this was no mistake. This was deliberate and coordinated.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-israel-20171023-story.html

Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order Monday that requires all firms with state contracts to promise they will not boycott Israel.

Hogan, surrounded by local and national Jewish leaders, said he wants to send a message that Maryland supports the Jewish state and the economic ties between the two regions.

The executive order is meant to thwart the international, Palestinian-led Boycott, ,Divestment and Sanctions movement, which urges companies to refuse to do business in Israel. The effort has gained only modest support in the United States.

Pro-Israel groups across the country have been pushing states to enact such anti-BDS measures, though the legality of some have been challenged on free-speech grounds.

Hogan said all future state contracts would require companies to certify they will not economically discriminate against Israel, and that if any current state contractors refuse to agree, “they would be terminated.”

How much do you need to see before you realize this is is a huge problem for the USA. Seems like Israel comes first, the US second.

https://unitedwithisrael.org/nevada-becomes-20th-us-state-to-sign-anti-bds-legislation-into-law/

Apparently this is not just the USA either,  similar things are being passed in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/opinion-the-bds-motion-and-canada-s-relationship-with-israel-1.3488151

I understand this in an opinion piece.

The House of Commons voted overwhelmingly last month to condemn any BDS effort in Canada, as the pro-Palestinian tactic has become increasingly prevalent on Western campuses in the past decade or so. Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has consistently degraded Israel's recent standing in the world, though Tel Aviv shows no sign of letting go of what it sees as its own rightful territory, occupation or no occupation.

The BDS movement seeks to change Israel's mind by convincing the world to use economic pressure to force Israel to comply with international law. Israel and its supporters have rallied against this movement with attack dog-like enthusiasm.

It seems that it comes down to this where this legislation is in place to not complain about Israel in any way whatsoever. We all know the occupied territories are a contested and heated issue. And all of this going on is to prevent anyone from having the constitutional choice of not doing business with certain nations for whatever reason.

Again, no problem with legislation that prevents me from doing business with let's say North Korea. But there should be no legislation FORCING one to do business with Israel.

My analogy would be like ,  I would be in trouble if I boycotted Walmart because of their terrible environmental practices and slave labour like practices that have devastated entire communities.