Should Elected Officials Be Drug Tested?

[packerconvert]

I found this question on facebook. I think it is a good idea to drug test our represenatives. Many other facets of business drug test their employees, why not drug test those the American people hire to represent them?

[packerconvert]

I personally think Obama should be tested for cocaine. I think he has had a relapse.

[TW]

And on what grounds do you find it necessary to test them? Would this be done on a political basis?

Would we also test "all" right wingers constantly for STDs because of their penchant for... well... you know...

[packerconvert]

Umm..employees in general are tested. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. STD's last time I checked, are covered under Medical Privacy laws. Ask Amoeba.

[TW]

I don't have a problem with drug testing as long as it's a program wherein being hired to do a job, or accepting election means you accept the premise of being tested.

I don't think you can make it retroactive to those already serving.

In other words, the old sharks slip through the net. That's the bad part about it.

[packerconvert]

That's fine. I still think it should be done.

[amoeba15]

Oct 29, 2009 20:14:06 GMT -5 packerconvert said:

Umm..employees in general are tested. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. STD's last time I checked, are covered under Medical Privacy laws. Ask Amoeba.

Interesting and worth debating.

I remember seeing an article in The Hill in which a Democrat Congressman was opposing Health care legislation because abortions were going to be covered. This got me thinking about all of the talk going on in DC about smokers being denied coverage because they are a very expensive health risk, whereas, those who can not control their urges are entitled to health coverage.....

Accordingly, anybody who has 'preventable or inexcusable' diseases/illnesses may be required to pay much more for health care coverage and/or may be denied coverage. Health care guru(s) impact on not only quality health care and affordability may be prejudicial to Americans seeking coverage.

Here is The Hill article:

Stupak: I am not trying to kill health reform; abortion still a concern

Whether public funds should be used for abortion services is exactly the sort of issue we should be debating openly on the floor of the House of Representatives.

thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/65297-i-am-not-trying-to-kill-health-reform-abortion-issue-is-key

Also, Overweight? Smoker? Health Bills Hit Hard

Bills could put workers under pressure to lose weight, stop smoking.

Get in shape or pay a price.

That’s a message more Americans could hear if healthcare reform provisions passed by the Senate finance and health committees become law. By more than doubling the maximum penalties that companies can apply to employees who flunk medical evaluations, the legislation could put workers under intense financial pressure to lose weight, stop smoking or even lower their cholesterol.

tobaccofreeaz.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/overweight-smoker-health-bills-hit-hard/

[TW]

The problem is, the guidelines that are used for what's called "overweight" aren't really correct.

A person's physical make-up has as much to do with their weight as their intake of food. Also, a person who uses a rigorous workout program could well be heavier than the "average person" based on height because they've produced muscles, not fat.

I don't trust the insurance companies on this. They're the same ones who used the "gay disease" BS to deny medical assistance to thousands of people when they knew damned well had contracted the disease through blood transfusions, or in their line of work, such as nurses, cops, and EMTs.

They have a poor record of dissemination of truth from the bottom line they want to maintain for their stockholders.

[packerconvert]

Fat is fat TW. Sheesh.

[TW]

So, everyone would be judged on their percentage of body fat?

Excuse me if I laugh. All those poor little babies being born who won't be eligible for insurance because they're chubby.

I don't care how good their marketing program is, that's not going to fly.

[amoeba15]

Tis one of the reasons why I worry about empowering health care gurus. Politics, profits and basically an inconsistent and at times prejucial determinations at the expense of the insured is WRONG.

Health care gurus who are conservative will be very, very critical of patients with STD's or who want abortions. Whereas, liberal health care gurus primarily will be more willing to look the other way.

I see soooooo much age discrimination that perhaps, people receiveing social security may be targeted next. Yup, those who live tooooooo long and suck money from the system may be deemed tooooooooo healthy and may be cut off from receiving social security past, let's say, the average life expectancy of 85.

Remember, some social security recipients receive much more money then they ever paid.

[packerconvert]

OH cripes. Now you are concerned about agism after the outrageous and cruel things said about seniors during the last election.

Thou doth protest too much.

[packerconvert]

Regarding fat assed babies. That's normal. It's medically appropriate that a newborn baby be chubby.

[amoeba15]

Perhaps, all health care gurus should be liberal and that health care coverage be determined on a sliding scale re earnings and those who are conservative and continously see things through rose colored glasses are repeatedly discriminated against.

[packerconvert]

How about we ship lazy ass pinkos to Cuba who don't work, but advocate the highjacking of another's paycheck to pay their cable bills

Better yet..just give them money out of Obama's stash.