Business Community Supporting Anti-Discrimination Bill

By On May 12, 2008 · 9 Comments

Hearings on Senate Bill 305 start tomorrow.

The goal of the bill is to prevent discriminatory practices on the basis of “sexual orientation”.

Besides the normal cast of characters coming out for and against this bill- we also have, for the first time I can remember, the business community getting involved.

Big Ohio companies like Cardinal Health, Cleveland Clinic and Nationwide Insurance are finally doing the right thing by publicly supporting this legislation…

Unfair practices are bad for business and bad for Ohio’s economy. Top Ohio employers like Nationwide Insurance say that Ohio’s intolerance harms their ability to attract and keep a skilled, creative workforce.

I love to see issues like this that drive a wedge between the angry, christofacist, social-conservatives and the pro-business wing of the GOP.

Evangelize!
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  • http://www.plunderbund.com Eric

    Naugle is no doubt trying to decide which side of him will beat up the other. LOL.

  • Matt N.

    This is nonsense. Both the religious right and the pro-free market conservatives would be on the same side here, just for different reasons.

  • http://plunderbund.com Joseph

    So where were the pro-free market conservatives when your pal Ken was busy forcing through that horrible, anti-gay marriage bill?

    It’s unfortunate that we have to pass laws to avoid discrimination in the workplace, etc. but until the Blackwells and Burresses of the world quit trying to make discrimination part of Ohio’s official state policy then we need to fight back.

  • Matt N.

    I’d rather fight back against liberal looters like you who think you should have a say in how a business conducts business.

  • http://plunderbund.com Joseph

    While I do admire your alliterative prowess, I so have to disagree with your “liberal looter” label.

    It’s the job of the state to protect its citizens. And that’s what this bill intends to do.

    Obviously the business community likes the idea or else they wouldn’t be supporting it.

    Backwards-ass legislation like that marriage amendment give Ohio a bad reputation that hinders Ohio’s businesses.

    This bill is one step in the right direction to repairing that reputation.

  • Matt N.

    The label fits you perfectly. Wear it with pride.

    “It’s the job of the state to protect it’s citizens.”- I agree with that to an extent, but it’s a loaded phrase. It is important to differentiate between negative rights and positive rights. While I, for example have no problem with states enforcing negative rights, which obliges others to refrain from interfering with someone’s attempt to do something (For example, the right you have to be protected from me punching you in the face.) I become nervous when people demand positive rights, where a moral obligation is imposed on a person to do something for someone.

    So if we are going to say the state should “protect it’s citizens”, then the state’s primary role when it comes to business is to protect the rights of the business owners… ie, the ones who own the capital…. and allow them to hire, fire, and treat their employees as they wish. After all, no employee is FORCED to work for bigots, and in the free market- discrimination becomes expensive for any profit maximizing firm.

  • http://plunderbund.com Joseph

    This bill doesn’t force anyone to do anything.

    Ohio is an ‘at-will’ employement state. People can quit or be fired for any reason- as long as it isn’t because of discrimination.

    And the law doesn’t force a company to hire anyone- even the most qualified person.

    The government and my employer need to stay out of my bedroom.

    And ACTUAL businesses agree with me.

    Maybe you could get one of your theoretical businesses that might be hurt by this law to write a letter against it.

  • Matt N.

    It forces businesses to follow whatever measures needed to avoid discrimination (which is impossible- everyone discriminates atleast in minor ways). This simply opens up businesses for lawsuits from perverts who want to wear a damn dress to work.

    This has nothing to do with your bedroom. It has everything to do with the right a business should have to hire and fire for ANY reason.

  • http://plunderbund.com Joseph

    In theory, it’s a great idea.

    But it assumes that the people who work for these theoretical businesses will make decisions that are best for the business regardless of personal bias.

    ACTUAL businesses don’t operate in this theoretical world. They operate in Ohio.

    And actual businesses seem to understand that in order to attract talented employees to work and live in Ohio, public and private interests need to work together to protect both the interests of the employees and the businesses for which they work.

    In the real world, we make compromises to help move everyone forward.

    Ohio’s Businesses support this bill. Ohio’s citizens support this bill.

    The only people who don’t support it seem to be social conservatives.

    So the anti-business argument doesn’t really work.

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