[Superman]

I like the idea of having an official language, or at least I notice that it would be convenient to be able to expect English to be spoken anywhere and everywhere in the USA. On the other hand, what we're seeing is a collision between the way people actually behave and how communities evolve on the one hand, and government regulation of individuals on the other hand.

Yeah, I'm the token Liberal here and not the slightest bit embarrassed. I know for a fact that "industry" needs to be regulated. Absolutely. Not that they are bad, but they have no incentive to be responsible for the sake of society, and every incentive to be irresponsible where profits can be made that way. People need to be regulated also, and that's why we have laws against murder, etc. But here's the part I have a hard time understanding. Conservatives seem to be negative on the topic of regulating businesses, and very quick to regulate persons. "Freedom" is indeed a word with a changing definition.

Yes, it would be convenient to be able to expect that English be spoken everywhere. But that's telling people how to talk. Indeed, what would be even better is if folks were functionally multi-lingual. Language influences how we think, by the way. So, learning another language actually expands your ability to see problems from a variety of vantage points. It increases our mental flexibility, and teaches us words that have meanings which no English word has.

But then, rather than have diversity, and expanded thinking patterns.......Well let's just mandate that English be spoken everywhere. That's kinda the conservative "way."