County to ban hiring smokers

[Lady Python]

Sorry I wasn't on much yesterday. Had a crisis at home (nothing serious but annoying) to deal with which took me up until 5.30am.

We have wheelie bins for our rubbish (garbage). The powers-that-be dictated that we could no longer have weekly rubbish collections and made them fortnightly despite warnings that in hot weather it would cause problems.

We got hit with the worst problem yesterday. Maggots8-o

Lots of maggots. Maggots everywhere8-o

Utterly disgusting. Every bin in the street was infested. When we complained to the council we were told we shouldn't have left the lid open in hot weather The lid is kept closed, the bin not overfilled and still we had this problem along with everyone else in the street.

My kettle was working overtime last night because the only way to kill the blasted things was with boiling water and strong disinfectant. Thankfully the bins were emptied today but I don't envy the workmen their job. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

Yet, the ironic thing is we pay megabucks in council tax to pay for our rubbish collection yet we don't get a proper service. Our wonderful government now has the bright idea of charging us extra, over and above our council tax. It's an absolute disgrace. They are successfully turning this country into worse than a third world country

Since our government loves banning things, I think it is time they ware banned along with the idiots that run the local council

 

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

I can't wait for the binmen to knock on my door this year for their "christmas box" (ex-UK readers, it's like a tip for doing a good job). I'm gonna tell them that since they only collect once every two weeks, they only get the christmas box once every two years...

 

[Lady Python]

According to our illustrious government the fortnightly collection is EU diktat. Apparently, they've lied to the public again. It has nothing to do with EU legislation at all I found out a couple of days ago. Spain pays less council tax (or their equivalent) and get their bins emptied every day. Spain, of course, is also in the EU. Rip-off Britain strikes again

 

[strungmind]

Sorry to get off topic of "bin collection" and to possibly ressurect an slightly dead thread, but isn't hiring based on smoking or not smoking considered discrematory. I mean, as of right now, and lets hope forever, smoking is LEGAL as long as one is of legal age. I understand the health care angle, but at the same time, certain ethnicity groups are more prone to certain diseases then others, which has come up in many medical studies, according to my knowledge, so are we going to start banning those people to from getting a job because the pose a greater health risk than others, just seems we are going bit backwards in society instead of progressing, but I guess progression is just another one of those things thats in the eye of the beholder . I could understand maybe not allowing certain healthcare benefits that normally come with the job, but even that seems a little ridicilous, but I would be willing to accept that. Just my two cents.

-Strungmind

 

[Elle]

i'm not very educated on the subject, but you would think this would fall under some sort of discrimination

how very terrible, that county is bordering on dictatorship if you ask me...

 

[surbitonPete]

Yes .......I would have thought it would be illegal to take discrimination against smokers as far as not employing them.........It's all reminds me of Hitler's kind of mentality.

 

[OutWest]

at one point, walmart here was not hiring smokers. They changed it shortly afterwards, though. Dunno if they figured out they'd have to fire most of their employees or what. And, it's not like it was 'cost of healthcare' related, since most of their employees dont have medical or are on state aid.

One of the ones that made the news pretty big, back a few years ago, was Weyco, Inc. They fired anyone who tested positive for nicotine. The Smokers Club, Inc. - Weyco Inc. Page 1

It's definately a slippery slope. There are also companies that will fire you if you gain too much weight while employed by them.

 

[dazyrue]

It really is control. I see where they are coming from; smoking is bad and it will kill you. BUT I dont see them enforcing bans on other things that kill you. They say now that obesity is the number one killer in the US. I dont see them banning sugar from restaurants, or forcing people to eat specific diets. "You cant work here if you dont finish your veggies". Its crazy!!!
Tabacco is legal, but they are turning into a drug that should be banned. People are now gonna be selling it on the streets like weed and hard drugs and go underground.

 

[Elle]

People are now gonna be selling it on the streets like weed and hard drugs and go underground.

i said to myself "wow, could you imagine that??"

and sadly a moment after... i realized i could. not to put MYSELF on a high horse, but it really is my belief that to be insane is normal- and that non-power/control lusting, level headed honest people are the minority...

 

[Jag1313]

It really is control. I see where they are coming from; smoking is bad and it will kill you. BUT I dont see them enforcing bans on other things that kill you. They say now that obesity is the number one killer in the US. I dont see them banning sugar from restaurants, or forcing people to eat specific diets. "You cant work here if you dont finish your veggies". Its crazy!!!
Tabacco is legal, but they are turning into a drug that should be banned. People are now gonna be selling it on the streets like weed and hard drugs and go underground.

You are right! But what i think is more scary is the fact that a specific group is singled out, after that another group is singled out and so forth.
It starts with the smokers and will not end with obesity.

 

[taz3cat]

Have any of you young folks read the book 1984 well big brother is here and getting stronger every day. If you have not read it get it a your public liabery and read it. Love/hate it when life imitates fiction.

1 state wants to put a electronic milage spy in your cars and we all know electronic things can do many things at the same time. I can google your address and look at your house or anything else.

 

[hitman]

Add another to a growing list. And it's really a no-nicotine policy. We e-smokers will test positive in saliva or urine tests for cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine consumption and the easiest way to test for smoking. We could not e-smoke and be employed in this county. This is a HUGE problem for those switching from real tobacco, and its known health hazards, to safer e-smoking.

My work does something similiar, they test you for nicotine. if they find it, they charge you extra for health insurance. ($25 every 2 weeks)

I fought this and now my work considers the E-Cig as Nicotine Replacement ... not smoking. So I don't get charged.

Wonder if this will still be the case after a year when they realize I'm not gonna quit my precious E-Cig

 

[lorie1482]

Wow, and i work in law enforcement in which they test for narcotics on a regular basis!! I can't imagine being under that kind of pressure!!!! No freedom to enjoy your self when you're not working, that's crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[angel_1170]

wow thats really harsh...I don't think I'd want to work there...wouldn't it be more prudent to just help people quit or persue a more active healthy lifestyle instead of making them pariahs? yikes

 

[Zebra]

With our new administration in power, we can expect to see more 'edicts' from the government telling us what we can and cannot do. This new tax on cigarettes, which the Democrats salivated over, will not deter smokers. It will just make bootleg sales go through the roof. Remember prohibition? Wow....that worked well.

What's even more sad, is that the bulk of the populice just follows along like little sheep, while more and more of our rights are being stripped away. Socialism, here we come. I hope Comrade Obama is a one termer.

 

[Randall Fox]

With our new administration in power ...our rights are being stripped away. Socialism, here we come. I hope Comrade Obama is a one termer.

This is not a left or right issue. Both parties have a vested interest in maximizing the power of the State, and both parties have been ignoring the letter and intent of the Constitution for far too long.

Unfortunately, the majority of the populace wants the security of Big Brother so be prepared for the continuing erosion of freedom no matter which party holds power.

 

[TropicalBob]

Amen, Randall, and I bet I'm not only one to think "Comrade Obama" is a distasteful way to refer to our President. It fact, it's despicable!

 

[Randall Fox]

I agree, Bob.

When I was in the military, I personally despised many people of higher rank. It would not have been right to publicly disrespect them.

I saluted the rank, not the person. I showed respect to the rank, not the person.

I despise nearly everything President Obama stands for.

But I show respect for the Office of the President of the US.

Why is it most people don't understand that concept? Especially the Left for the past 8 years, and some on the Right now.

 

[Terraphon]

With our new administration in power, we can expect to see more 'edicts' from the government telling us what we can and cannot do. This new tax on cigarettes, which the Democrats salivated over, will not deter smokers. It will just make bootleg sales go through the roof. Remember prohibition? Wow....that worked well.

What's even more sad, is that the bulk of the populice just follows along like little sheep, while more and more of our rights are being stripped away. Socialism, here we come. I hope Comrade Obama is a one termer.

*sigh*

First off, Mr. Giglio, this "edict" was created before Obama was elected. lrn2datestamp.

Second, this is a county in Florida...Not the United States Government...

Third, if you think your rights are being infringed upon, do something about it other than making up cute little nicknames for political figures...Start a petition, a letter-writing campaign, a movement of some sort to combat what you see as injustice.

Wagging your political e-peen on an internet forum isn't going to get anything done.

 

[J W in Texas]

So, there I am, minding my own business chewing my nicorette gum, when all of a sudden I get called into my supervisor's office. What have I done now? Helloo...there's more than one way to have cotinine in your system! Somebody needs to sue these b*st*rds!

Oh, and I agree with what Zebra said except for the "Comrade" comment and more completely and eloquently stated by Randall Fox.