Rant, rant, rant: I'm pissed over tv news!

The tv news last night reported on a growing trend among companies to fire all smokers. Many companies already have a policy in place not to hire smokers in new positions.

The reason cited for these policies is the health risks to employees who smoke increases the cost of medical insurance, and that smokers may take more sick days than non smokers.

Employer smoking bans apply not only to smoking on the job site but during off-duty hours at home. And some companies actually give employees random breathalyzer tests to hunt for tobacco intake during the past 48 hours; employees who test positive twice are fired immediately.

All in the guise of controlling health costs.

This is an inconsistent, unreasonable invasion of individual rights to privacy!

Now, any employer has the right to dictate what happens on the job – but what happens when you are off the clock in your own car or in your own home?

Inconsistent and unreasonable?

What about fat people?

Obesity can lead to all sorts of health problems. In fact, the tv news said that some companies are already dictating exercise and diet policies, another invasion of individual rights, in the name of lower healthcare costs.

When will they fire, or refuse to hire, black employees?

The tragedy of Sickle Cell Anemia makes many blacks in danger of health risks.

What about diabetics?

Should they ever be hired?

Of course, employers should never hire any female of child bearing age because it costs so much to have a baby.

They should never hire homosexuals who may be at risk for AIDS. In fact they should never even hire sexually mature heterosexuals who may also contract AIDS or a venereal disease.

So, who does that leave?

To be consistent in guarding the health of employees, these companies should only employ elderly, white, non-smoking, non-diabetic, scrawny, males who could not benefit from even a double dose of Viagra.

And, judging from the appearance of the old guy on tv who acted so proud to be his company’s spokesman about the smoking policy, that’s just exactly what they’ve done.