Does anyone else find it ironic that... (Bush drugs/alcohol )

[Beatrix]

Does anyone else find it ironic that it is oh so important that burger flippers at the local burger joint (and practically everyone else - including an increasing number of public school students) are drug tested? In fact, people with a drug conviction may even have a tough time getting a job flipping burgers. Yet, the guy with his finger on the button with a KNOWN drug/alcohol history is not tested and is allowed to have such a powerful position?

Just a random thought...

on edit: Let's also not forget the fact it looks like he's been hitting the bottle when he appears in public frequently.

[maggrwaggr]

1. in most professions drug testing is an absolute joke

I used to work at a call center. We'd sit around, wait for the phone to ring, take orders for computer books.

This company drug tested. If you tested positive, they'd immediately fire you.

While I was there, one of their best employees, a guy who was a total expert at all the books, who could talk shop with the customers, a really super-good employee, tested positive for dope, and they fired his ass immediately.

It was ridiculous. This company was a sub-let place, they'd sublet these services to big huge companies like Microsoft, and they liked to sell themselves with this "we drug test our employees" bullshit.

I didn't work there very long. Hated that place.

Seriously, unless someone's drug-taking affects others, say if you're an airline mechanic or something, drug testing is a serious INVASION OF PRIVACY.

I honestly don't know why it's legal. Unless, like I said, you're a pilot or an aircraft mechanic or something like that.

[Vickers]

2. Insurance reasons

A company pays less for insurance premiums (including workmen's comp) if they have an active drug-testing program.

[Sivafae]

4. Which I don't understand

because how can an employer really be responsible for what an employee does on their off time? Or an insurance company for that matter? It doesn't make sense.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Sivafae!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DebJ]

3. interesting you mention pilots...story on pilots and "E"

My daughter dated a pilot for about 6 months or so. The reason that she stopped dating him is that he kept using ecstasy, or E. My daughter works for the Treasury Dept (FINCEN) and is considering a job as an FBI agent, so she can't have any 'unclean' friends. She told me that I'd be surprised (horrified) to find out how many pilots use E. Hey, this guy is in his mid to late twenties, makes mucho bucks (his last raise was $17 an HOUR...not TO that figure, but that much additional). He gets paid this money while he sleeps until the next flight, or while he runs through Vegas or wherever he is for a day or two. I worked with a kid who had done a lot of E; he said he really regretted it because his brain was now so totally screwed up from the stuff (and yes, it WAS). Why worry about the odd chance of a terrorist hijacker, when the pilots brains are hijacked? (By the way, for all I know, my daughter was dating this guy as part of her job, not as a love interest...I never can tell)

[thebigidea]

6. so the Treasury Dept. makes its female employees date pilots?

[Cleita]

8. I had to take a lie detector test once to work in a book store

for minimum wage. It was sort of a part-time thing for me, which I did while angling for a job in an accounting firm. Very strangely, the money I handled for the accounting firm was in the millions of dollars, which I could have easily stolen with a few swift strokes of the pen, as compared to hundreds of dollars at the book store, yet I was never asked to take any lie detector or drug test for the accounting job.

[SarahB]

5. Bush was rich, that's why.

Another discrepancy involves the lighter sentences for those in the 70's and 80's who snorted coke (usually white with more money) compared with those who smoked it ("crack"). It's the same drug, yet different punishments for their possession.

[DemoTex]

7. Why do you think Bu$h bugged-out of his guard unit?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/02/21_lies.html

My 2/21 op/ed piece on this subject ...

[donhakman]

10. Stewardess'' are drug tested, pilots are not.

Modern slave gang song.


The man says you gotta
peeinna cup
peeinna cup
peeinna cup
Pull yur pants down and
peeinna cup
or they'll
take yur job away.

The mans gonna watch you
peeinna cup
peeinna cup ...etc

[DemoTex]

12. Airline pilots are randomly tested (drugs/EtOh) ...

just like flight attendants. Check facts, donhakman. You have made a very irresponsible statement here, with very negative connotations to my profession. As an airline captain, I must ask for your apology, a first for me in over three years at DU.

[donhakman]

13. I find it incredulous

that anyone would seemingly take pride in being drug tested or be offended by a comment that pilots had in fact been excempt from drug testing. Of course I was not aware of the policy change. Thanks for the update.

On an opposite note , The US fighter pilots that attacked and killed a Canadian troops in Iraq were encouraged to take amphetamines for "improved" performance. It was brought out that the US pilot who killed the Canadians was in fact on speed.

[Octafish]

11. Supernovae!

Excellent article, DemoTex! It's something written by someone who knows, well and thoroughly.



Hi, Jimbo!

[JayS]

9. Correct me if I am wrong...

...but aren't all members of the House and the Senate exempt from drug (including alcohol) testing?