CoventryCat86 said:
I heard something like that on the radio a couple of days ago Private employers argue that smokers cause them to pay more for health insurance. Part of me says "Okay, a private employer can make any rules they want."
BUT what about obese people? How about those who have a history of cancer in their families? How about those who have children? Those are examples of people who will certainly incur far more expensive health insurance claims than smokers in the long run.
Employers using this as an excuse is definately not right. I hope someone brings legal action against employers who pull this nonsense.
The law definitely needs to be changed...
First, smoking outdoors. That's just rediculous. Considering the amount of polution everyone has to deal with on a day to day basis due to these large corporations and car exhaust, not to mention the forest fires, and the guy b-b-q'ing out in the back yard.... It's just rediculous.
In the home? Well that's completely retarded and comes right up against privacy laws that insure your right to privacy.
In the workplace? I'm sorry, This is like attacking a symptom and forgetting about the problem, which is our failing health care system.
Some states protect smokers under various (lifestyle) laws, and honestly i'm a bit shocked that Florida DOESN'T, due to the amount of tourists they have coming into the state each year, you would think they would be a bit more lenient. But they're not.
It's really sad, actually. Honestly, it's an invasion of privacy... It's one thing for an employee to ban smoking on their property, that should be within their rights... But banning people from smoking at home? This is probably against the law under the Right To Privacy laws we have here in the united states. It's just a matter of someone sueing over it and winning.
I realize there is a health insurance crisis in the country, and that it stems from hospitals trying to see bigger and better profits each year, (meanwhile their workers continue to be underpaid for the work that they do.) This in turn translates over to rising health insurance costs. (which in turn translates to crappier and crappier insurance.) But this kind of thing makes me think about our slogan (Land of the Free) and laugh or cry, depending on my mood.
Honestly, I think countries like England, and perhaps even Japan offer more freedoms to their people than we do these days. And we're supposed to be "The Land of the Free".... I know they offer a better quality of Television programming.
What a joke. America has become a nation of hypocrites, in many more ways than one over the last 3 decades or so.
IMO: If they're going to do this, then eventually people who are overweight will suffer as well. Then comes people who drink, then comes people who are ACTIVE and like to go sky-diving, mountain climbing, etc.
Pretty soon you'll find that only about 10% of the population can hold down a job, or be insurable. And that will basically be the yuppie population.. The ones who think getting on a treadmill for 45 minutes is a good outdoor activity.
I realize that America is still a great country, but it bothers me that Americans have let slip so many of the laws and rights that have protected them for so long, by becoming lethargic and thinking that "The Government Knows Best."
We need some kind of pro-smoking coalition.. The Right To Smoke or something.... Basically the equivelent to the NRA, before we're all forced to become drones or leave.
