When free men cannot know whether they are within the law until an exclusive caste divines its meaning, and that exclusive caste routinely divines that meaning to be counter-intuitive to the thinking of intelligent citizens, consent of the governed is forfeit. It is precisely the legal profession that has brought itself, and law in general, into disrepute. Unfortunately "contempt of court" has become a routine state of citizenship.
That decisions are rendered on a narrow basis is generally good I think, but when a court pointedly refuses to decide the critical issues that are actually raised by a case, that court fails to do its job in my opinion. This decision should not give significant optimism to those, like myself, who believe the baker has no obligation to prepare the cake.
I'm not sure what your point is. Do you prefer that laws be drafted to be so complex so as to micromanage each and every situation? Laws convey enforceable rights and obligations, which necessarily conflict with each other from time to time. This case was a textbook definition of a collision of rights and obligations, and the Court ultimately could not decide how to split the baby.
I share your frustration about that; today's decision resolves very little and provides scant guidance to those who seek to practice their faith in the conduct of commerce, and those who seek to move about in the world without being discriminated against and stigmatized. But the Justices have enunciated a half dozen or so important propositions that will inform future decision-making.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and this vexatious issue (which those from all sides agree could best be resolved by tolerance and good faith) will continue to spawn 100-page threads on political discussion boards. What is ironic, though, is the one who was most underserved by this decision may be Jack Phillips himself. He's gone through hell and high water to get the SCOTUS to listen to him, and he received absolutely no guidance whether, tomorrow morning when he opens his store, he can sell custom wedding cakes again.