Official Wants to Require Ineffective Smoking Cessation Classes for County Employees

[Vocalek]

This is the short version of the story, as picked up by the AP news service:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...2591de-3689-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html

Here is the full version in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...3be09a-2f6d-11e2-9f50-0308e1e75445_story.html

The first time Gerald W. Hyland of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors tried to cut smokers from the county’s payroll, more than a decade ago, it didn’t exactly go over well. His suggestion that the county stop hiring smokers brought him nothing but angry criticism.

His latest idea — forcing county employees who smoke to take classes to help them quit — isn’t gaining much support, either. This is, after all, Virginia, a state built on tobacco and the Jeffersonian ideals of limited government. Few have accused the commonwealth of being a nanny state.

What’s next, some wonder — requiring obese workers to enroll in Weight Watchers?

 

[TennDave]

Our county govt/school system (where I work) tried to do basically the same thing but it was for insurance coverage. If we wanted the less expensive, more comprehensive plan, and we were smokers, we had to show "effort" towards quitting by signing up for countless cessation classes, buy the NRT's- show proof etc. I never really looked into it or the specifics because my wife works for an adjoining county's school system that has the same policies to choose from but without the hassles of all these mandates so I switched over to her "family plan." Smoker friends of mine who did not have such a choice have mostly not been able to satisfy the regulatory authorities and have been switched out of the less expensive plan to the higher one. Three of my smoker friends have now switched to vaping...there is a renewal period coming up next year and they say they will hopefully satisfy the requirements to switch back again into the less expensive plan- I told them to not count on it it they are still using e-cigs, even if they aren't smoking any longer.

 

[sonicdsl]

This is the short version of the story, as picked up by the AP news service:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...2591de-3689-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html

Here is the full version in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...3be09a-2f6d-11e2-9f50-0308e1e75445_story.html

The first time Gerald W. Hyland of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors tried to cut smokers from the county’s payroll, more than a decade ago, it didn’t exactly go over well. His suggestion that the county stop hiring smokers brought him nothing but angry criticism.

His latest idea — forcing county employees who smoke to take classes to help them quit — isn’t gaining much support, either. This is, after all, Virginia, a state built on tobacco and the Jeffersonian ideals of limited government. Few have accused the commonwealth of being a nanny state.

What’s next, some wonder — requiring obese workers to enroll in Weight Watchers?

Soooooo tired of people trying to run my life. I love a good suggestion, but other than crime, GET OUT!

 

[Pentarth]

Yes i'm sick to death of it too... this is America people. Freedom of Choice is a foundation of our country and way of life, yet people are sitting back and letting the government/corporations take more and more power and decision making authority away from us. Where is the end? Let them keep on this socialist/communist path and next you won't be insured/hired cause you're to fat, i.e. over "acceptable body mass index charts". We have to oppose this controlling mentality or else in no time we'll be living in a country where you can't do ANYTHING without big brother's consent. I frankly don't need someone to tell me how to live my life or make my own choices. I'm a college grad / medical professional of 25 years practice now. I'll make my OWN decisions and live the consequences of them.
Remember to, that the to expensive to insure cry is a farce. Obesity is FAR more dangerous than smoking with medical complications associated to it in every capacity, and far shorter lifespan.

 

[sonicdsl]

Obesity is FAR more dangerous than smoking with medical complications associated to it in every capacity, and far shorter lifespan.

Your source?

 

[Pentarth]

Every body system studied in college. 25 years of firsthand experience. Conversations with countless other medical professionals. Ask any doctor and they will tell you obesity is dangerous and it will significantly shorten your life and add complications to most surgeries, with higher dehiscience rates, higher infection rates, etc. a lot of doctors won't even operate on obese patients. It is a fact but due to the "politically correct" society we live in it's not brought up very much. Biased studies against smoking overinflate the statistics on that as well. Go to any doctor and if you even MENTION you smoked well smoking caused it.
"but doc it's an infected toe!" smoking caused it!!
Obesity More Dangerous Than Smoking | Health Articles
How serious is obesity and being overweight?
just try looking it up ... type how dangerous is obesity in google you'll get 11,400,000 results.
The point is not to pick on obese people ... if that's the only thing you got from my above statement then I didn't make my point and i'll delete the post.

 

[sonicdsl]

Wasn't the only thing I got.... Just wondering how the statement of obesity being worse than smoking was justified (yes, I know both are extremely unhealthy).