Under the circumstances, Kim Davis poses little threat to the rule of law. Her actions have done nothing to prevent gay couples from getting marriage licenses throughout Kentucky. The couples that present themselves for her signature can easily go to the next county, as I\u2019m sure heterosexual couples in Rowan County have done over the last two months. She\u2019s not making grand public statements about a supposed right to dissent. She\u2019s done nothing in the way of organizing resistance to Obergefell. No counter-revolution.<\/p>\n
So why the furor? Because her refusal poses a symbolic threat to \u201cmarriage equality\u201d\u009d and its claim to realize the high ideals of justice. One word of dissent, one act of conscience, disturbs the serene confidence of progressives that they have a monopoly on all that is right and good.<\/p>\n
Neither you nor I nor Kim Davis have a \u201cright\u201d\u009d to follow our consciences. That\u2019s silly. Our consciences do not wait upon the niceties of rights. I would not protest if higher authorities decided to remove Davis from her position. The law has a proper claim on public life, even if it does not have a final authority over our consciences.<\/p>\n