What are we becoming? Two stories on our rights making me ill

[The Straight Story]

(From 2 earlier stories I posted)

Councilman Wants To Ban Smokers From City Jobs

A Central Florida councilman wants to ban people who smoke from taking any city jobs, according to a Local 6 News report.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=336721&mesg_id=336721

Delphi asks ill workers for health files

Hourly workers who call in sick could lose pay if they won't release medical info.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=337642&mesg_id=337642

When our health choices become an investment by corporations and/or local government how much control will we have of our own bodies? As we are whittled away at by statistics we become more and more a number that can be manipulated for the benefit of others.

[Deja Q]

1. And with the feds acting as if peak oil is real, why bother?

Hunt'n'peck only the prime specimens is the only real reason...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. On the flip side.... what if Philip Morris only hired smokers??? nt.

[frieguy]

3. I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!

I was curious, so I checked it out, and this is what I found.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1573113/posts
and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=336721&mesg_id=336721

WE ALL AGREE!!!!!

So, who the hell is this bullshit popular with?!?!?!?!?:wow:

[The Straight Story]

5. Damn, well I guess there is common ground on some issues with them

I think the difference though is we want to expand rights and they want to either keep them where they are or regress them.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi frieguy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[seabeyond]

4. democrats on this board wanted it. hate smokers so much willing

to give away all our rights. cant see stepping over the line leaves us open to everything and all things that another in power may want to clamp down on. so all the people that said rah the first owner that wanted to fire his smokers, this is for you

disgusted. i am disgusted with selfishness and selfcentered motives

[SheilaT]

6. Let's see.

First off, since when is it breaking news that smoking is bad for you?

Secondly, almost all employees are "at will", meaning the company has almost complete control over the employee and can change the terms of employment or fire at any time. Sick leave, sadly, is not guaranteed and can be changed or eliminated as the company sees fit.

this is life in the U.S.A.

[The Straight Story]

7. One your second point

About being at will. Understand that, I am surprised though that more workers are not pulling together and fighting things. An informal union if you will.

The problem is, many don't seem to care if something is not affecting them directly so they shrug it off as people are kicked around.

[SheilaT]

9. An "informal" union

is no more effective than no union at all. We've had serious union busting in this country for a quarter of a century now. When Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers in 1981, and the then-president of the AFL-CIO, Lane Kirkland, praised Reagan for doing so, the handwriting was on the wall.

I have known far too many people, who should know better, think that unions are all bad. Hardly anyone remembers that the reason we have the eight hour day and any kind of minimum wage is because of unions. Most people, no matter what job they're in, feel too cowed by the system to speak out against injustices. It's a genuine shame.