Post by 1972vet on Aug 10, 2005 0:01:09 GMT -5
This stuff is getting out of hand:
www.jacksonlewis.com/legalupdates/article.cfm?aid=750
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6870458/
This is part of a dark and disturbing trend across America that has been forming over the past two decades.
What began with the "politically Correct Police" attempting to control our speech and thoughts, has extended to include corporations attempting to control our behavior beyond the workplace. If we do not take action to stem this rising tide and reclaim our rights as American citizens with a government of the people, for the people and by the people, we will indeed wake up one day and find that the land of the free and the home of the brave has become the land of the caged and the home of the slave.
There is an old World War II-era story relating the plight of a Polish Jew who took no action when the Nazis came to take the man down the street, and again took no action when they took his neighbor, but later lamented his own fate that no one would help him when they came for him. The moral is that when injustice is left unchecked by those it does not affect, it is injustice to all, and long term it will not always be someone else.
Smoking in general, and smokers in particular, have been a number of things for years now: Cash cows--for governments as addicted to the tax revenue from smoking as the smokers themselves are addicted to the nicotine.
Social pariahs--originally sent outside to smoke but now in danger of being sent home for good.
Easy targets--it is not easy to defend smoking and smokers (even though I am one myself).
There are those who would say, "Well, smokers deserve it. Their habit is disgusting and costs money in health care for nonsmokers and employers alike."
Remember that sentiment when the next step is controlling your diet or your weight.
Remember that sentiment when you are asked to take an annual physical to prove your cholesterol is low enough for you to remain employed. Remember that sentiment when your employer informs you that due to the increased insurance cost of driving a motorcycle, you are no longer allowed to ride yours, and you will be fired if you do so on the weekends.
Remember that sentiment when there is no one down the street, and no neighbor to take, and they come for you next.
vet
www.jacksonlewis.com/legalupdates/article.cfm?aid=750
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6870458/
This is part of a dark and disturbing trend across America that has been forming over the past two decades.
What began with the "politically Correct Police" attempting to control our speech and thoughts, has extended to include corporations attempting to control our behavior beyond the workplace. If we do not take action to stem this rising tide and reclaim our rights as American citizens with a government of the people, for the people and by the people, we will indeed wake up one day and find that the land of the free and the home of the brave has become the land of the caged and the home of the slave.
There is an old World War II-era story relating the plight of a Polish Jew who took no action when the Nazis came to take the man down the street, and again took no action when they took his neighbor, but later lamented his own fate that no one would help him when they came for him. The moral is that when injustice is left unchecked by those it does not affect, it is injustice to all, and long term it will not always be someone else.
Smoking in general, and smokers in particular, have been a number of things for years now: Cash cows--for governments as addicted to the tax revenue from smoking as the smokers themselves are addicted to the nicotine.
Social pariahs--originally sent outside to smoke but now in danger of being sent home for good.
Easy targets--it is not easy to defend smoking and smokers (even though I am one myself).
There are those who would say, "Well, smokers deserve it. Their habit is disgusting and costs money in health care for nonsmokers and employers alike."
Remember that sentiment when the next step is controlling your diet or your weight.
Remember that sentiment when you are asked to take an annual physical to prove your cholesterol is low enough for you to remain employed. Remember that sentiment when your employer informs you that due to the increased insurance cost of driving a motorcycle, you are no longer allowed to ride yours, and you will be fired if you do so on the weekends.
Remember that sentiment when there is no one down the street, and no neighbor to take, and they come for you next.
vet