That said, I would hope Ron Paul has wised up a little since then about the realities of the workplace, and the fact that quitting is not always an option.

Ron Paul is for freedom, as well as personal responsibility. When we have a government that tells us (anyone) what can and cannot happen in regards to our personal freedoms and mistakes, we become dependent on that government to make our moral choices for us, instead of growing up as a society on our own.

Victimhood - in any form - is an unfortunate concept, because it renders the "victim" powerless in their own right. They lose the ability to see how they can change their OWN life and circumstances without the crutches of the government.

It's myopic to think that there are only two options to any situation: Either be a victim and stay in the situation you're in or be a victim and seek retribution towards he who has "victimized" you. There are always a host of options for everyone, myriad ways in which they can change their own lives for the better. It does us all a disservice when you tell others that they are powerless to their circumstances unless the government steps in and changes the situation.

Step back and take a broader look at how society (and the individual) needs to grow up on their own. If you look at it from the perspective that each individual IS powerful to change their OWN situation, I think you'll find that even these points that Ron Paul makes that seems contentious to you now will make a little more (positive and empowering) sense.

I think that he was trying to say that by putting a law on the books only makes it more likely that there will be more violations of personal rights. Maybe I'm only using personal experience on this, but from what I've read: In the 70's men were being paid one and a half times as women were; in 2008 men are being paid one and a half times as women are. I believed that if women were in more jobs, that some of this would quit. It didn't happen. I don't think that women should quit because they are coerced to do anything. But I hope that Mr. Paul is not saying that either. I don't think that the legislation of moral does any good. It seems, also, that discrimination is still prevalent. The method is different and there is more lying about it, but it is still going on. The way that it happens now, the boss will pull a Clinton and then business as usual. The government and employers (generally) are still trying to get away with these ugly things, but now everyone sits on their hands when things like this happens, because they believe (or at least say) that the government will take care of the situation so they don't have do anything.

I think that the insurance is a one problem in your hypothetical example. The more we are forcing employers to "give" insurance, the more "cracks" appear for people to slip through. In my case (this is only a summary), I was assaulted and then my boss told me that I "had to" see doctors to get a disability designation. He told me that since the employer (and apparently the insurance company) was forcing me to do this, that all of the costs would be covered. It didn't happen. After 21 years (only on this last job) of working for a "retirement", I was left with no job (I was fired because I was no longer "able"), three doctors' bills, no retirement, a tiny disability income, no way of getting another job, more medical problems and without insurance. Now they are threatening to make me pay back the disability income, because I don't have the money to pay doctors to tell them that I'm ill! Everyone is dancing around the law to protect the people who are harming me while the law is making my life impossible. All of those benefits that I had to pay all those years, for my "own good", have disappeared to someone else's pocket. My coworkers had the excuse of "we was jus' a heppin'"; the union didn't want to help, because I wasn't an employee anymore; the EEOC says this state is a "right to work state" so they will not help; I can't get unemployment because I'm not "abled"; Job Service won't even let me register because this is Vocational Rehab's job; Vocational Rehab won't help because I don't have the ability to get a loan (because I don't have a job); I can't get welfare because I have "disability income". Lawyers are the biggest excuse makers of all - from "it is not possible in our political atmosphere" to "well you're not DEAD yet, are you". Even the churches are in the act. They (the ones who come to my house) believe that this is the Armagedon and this is a good thing, according to them, so they don't have to do anything except pray because God (or Jehovah) will make everything right after we are all dead.

Sorry, I got off of the sexual harassment subject. I can rant about that for awhile, if you want But it kinda ties up with your last blog "Employers Must At Least TRY to Accommodate Disabled Employees".

If you have any helpful suggestions (not excuses, please), I'm in need (a home based job or business, some type of income, food, legal representation, etc.).

I'm not drinking the Kool Aid for Paul, but most of what he's saying is what I've been saying for decades. I find him refreshing and I hope more people will try to think for themselves - this insanity has got to stop.

Kathy

"Throughout the twentieth century, the trend has been away from limited government and toward big government's intervening in every aspect of our lives. It has been financed with borrowed money and a fraudulent paper money system. Today, by
majority vote, government can easily cancel out the earnings or rights of individuals without any debate as to constitutionality. "