[mc32]

I think there should be a difference between having a thought and doing something illegal based on that thought.

Someone can talk about selling illegal or unproven drugs and have opinions on how illegal drugs should be legal even if they are dangerous. That should all be allowed even if in practice it would be negative to society at large.

On the other hand if they acted on that belief then that should not be accepted by society and should be punishable.

Likewise, someone could have the opinion that whites are inferior racquetball players, so long as when selecting racquetball players in a professional team they do not select based on that opinion (given discrimination/selection based on race/skin is illegal).