Tobacco users need not apply

Orlando Sentinel ^ | March 27, 2002 | April Hunt and Susan Jacobson

[Publius6961]

"It saves the taxpayers money in the long run, and hopefully it will save some lives," Mayor Glenn Sangiovanni said. "I think as an employer we have this right."

We are quickly becoming a nation of controllers and ignorant mini-hitlers.
Of course being wrong won't slow down this ignorant bastard.
What will he do when he discovers that the real load on health plans is AIDS?

In all my experience, the people wo habitually miss work more than others are female and non-smokers. Everybody but he seems to know that.
As for the "right" to save lives... that is such an outrageous statement that I am at a loss for words.

The same mentality as "we had to destroy the village to save it".
I sure hope a suit is in the works.
Or I will start a campaign to ban fat and ugly...
It is possible to quit smoking, but...

[justrepublican]

Administrators in the city of 19,000 say refusing to hire homosexual's will hold down the cost of health insurance, which is rising 30 percent a year...."The bottom line is health economists and the surgeon general have endorsed the idea that homosexuals are costing their employers and the overall economy."

A choice to choice comparison.

[Publius6961]

Unlawful use of common sense, the Bureau of Free Thought will be crashing through the door!!

Oh ya...
Right in there with the "Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and the Promotion of Virtue"

And we thought our biggest danger was the religious right!!!!!!!!
Ha ha?

[SERE_DOC]

Long live the black market!

Princess Leia: "Vader the tighter you squeeze, the more people are going to slip through your fingers"

[riley1992]

We both know those rates are never going to drop. This is an issue of controlling the private lives of citizens under the guise of infinite caring and concern. I am so touched I am going to go light a cigarette in their honor.

[Publius6961]

Then again, since I have only missed 2-3 days a year (on average) from work due to illness in my 40 years of working, and have been smoking for 43 years...maybe they owe me some money!

These stupid twits look like deer in the headlights when you ask them...

Why is it that 9 of the 10 documented longest-lived persons in recent history smoked until they were 100?

[JoeSixPack1]

When we "cruised for chicks" we couldn't have the radio blasting like they have today.
How could we toss out our really really cool pick-up lines :-)

[riley1992]

I think you're right. Once an issue is pushed into the 'health' arena, cramming it through the legislature is that much easier.

Look at the judge who ruled the mother had to cease all smoking around her son even though he had virtually no health problems whatsoever. If they can do that on the grounds of 'possible' future side effects and nothing else, what is to stop them doing it with fire arms in the home?

[Publius6961]

It also makes me sick when I hear about smoking's "cost to society." Nobody ever informed me when I was growing up that society had a claim to the fruits of my efforts, I thought it was a FREE country.

It all started when the parasites begged the government to provide everything.
And the government said... "here's what we're gonna do..."

Nothing is as dangerous as a righteous bureaucrat!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If they can do that on the grounds of 'possible' future side effects and nothing else, what is to stop them doing it with fire arms in the home?

Exactly. After Columbine the big push was to allow doctors to asks children if their parents kept guns in the home.
Tipper Gore said it concerned mental health and was part of the bigger issue of health care.
The hook at the time was, the kids are afraid and they need to talk about it.
I don't know how much this is being done. But I know they also talked about school counselors
evaluating students for mental health needs and referrals to doctors. Nice LIBERAL circle.

[E Rocc]

If tobacco can indeed be considered to be addictive, this policy violates the ADA. Good for the goose, good for the gander.

Gosh, wouldn't that entitle smokers a check under the citizens with disablities act.

Naw, but it would require employers to make "reasonable accomodations".

Hmmmmmmm......goodbye "smoke free workplaces"??

-Eric

[Bella_Bru]

That's right. I guess some employers wish to control what their employees do off the clock as well.

City officials defended the anti-smoking measure, which also requires new hires to submit to medical tests at management's discretion to prove they aren't sneaking a smoke on the sly after hours.

"It saves the taxpayers money in the long run, and hopefully it will save some lives," Mayor Glenn Sangiovanni said. "I think as an employer we have this right."

They also gonna make sure you are eating lean cuts of meat and staying away from high fat foods too?

[Bella_Bru]

I'm with you. My morning coffee and smokes are the only thing that keeps me sane.

[Bella_Bru]

Honestly, if I wanted a city job, I'd have to up my habit to 2 packs a day, easily.

[Bella_Bru]

pingzies.

[Max McGarrity]

WHEN IS THIS INSANITY GOING TO END?

When WE start running the rascals out of town naked. Not until then, and not anyone else. WE are the only ones who give a damn.

[Max McGarrity]

We are BORG!

[Liberal Classic]

The fat police can't be too far behind.

[maxwell]

It also makes me sick when I hear about smoking's "cost to society." Nobody ever informed me when I was growing up that society had a claim to the fruits of my efforts, I thought it was a FREE country.

Hey I thought we actually cost society LESS since we die quicker, dude...