“Why not? Can citizens sign away fundamental constitutional rights? I don’t think so. “
Three quick examples:
trade /state secrets
Non-disclosure agreement
When both sides agree not to speak bad about each other
People here are mistaking private companies for state owned ones (Like the Port Authority):
” Does the First Amendment apply to private companies and organizations?
No. The First Amendment applies to the government — to protect individuals from government censorship. While the text of the First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech,” it means that no federal, state or local government official can infringe on your free-speech rights. A private company is not a government or state and therefore generally is not subject to the requirements of the First Amendment.”
http://missoulaeditor.com/?p=1673
Yes, the First Amendment does not apply to corporate behemoths. But do we really want them to be able to regulate the political activities of their employees in their spare time? McDonalds cannot fire a black for marching in a civil rights demonstration. Should we allow McDonalds to declare that it won’t hire any Republicans? Any tea partyers? To fire anyone who owns a gun? Some of these corporations have been taken over by leftists who want to deprive us of rights that out forefathers exercised when they worked their own land.
Well, I'm not sure these are the same thing political or social expression:
1. Trade and state secrets: the former is treason, the latter is copyright infringement-- a kind of theft.
2. Non-disclosure agreements: mutual contract between parties, unrelated to political or religious expression. It also enters the realm of "intellectual property" dispute, and could be construed as a kind of theft. Not sure about this admittedly.
3. Parties not speaking bad about each other: This is an agreement between the two, and is maintained by mutual interests.
And maybe I'm wrong. But if so, what keeps a company from dictating how employees vote, or what religion they practice? With the job market the way it is, prospective employees would sign their soul away if the company were to stipulate it.
This brings to mind another stipulation employees often agree to: non-compete clauses stipulating that former employers not practice their profession within a community if and when, and regardless the reason, they leave the company. It's one of those gray areas, but it seems its possible to protect the former employer's property without denying another's right to get a job.