On Tuesday, the Daily published an editorial supporting a bill that would ban discrimination based on height or weight.
It is currently stuck in the Massachusetts Legislature and is sponsored by Tufts graduate and Somerville State Rep. Carl Sciortino.
I hope it never gets passed.
Since at least two-thirds of Americans are overweight, practically everyone could have some grounds to sue if this becomes law. This bill would give most Americans an excuse to sue their employer if they don't get a raise. If an employer encouraged his employees to exercise or control their diets, he could be sued for creating a hostile workplace. If a lower proportion of overweight job applicants were hired than thin applicants, a business could be forced to create an affirmative action program. Never mind that there could be a correlation between weight and responsibility; the costs would be astronomical.
Of course, there are obese individuals with medical conditions that make it impossible for them to attain a healthy weight. However, not every obese American has a thyroid condition. Certainly the number of Americans with genetic conditions that predispose them to obesity hasn't skyrocketed in recent decades. Many obese individuals are in no way responsible for their condition - but some are.
Supporters of the bill compare weight and height discrimination to sexism and racism. This is ridiculous. There have been short and fat presidents. (Taft weighed over 300 pounds, Madison was 5' 4".) Clinton administration Secretary of Labor and former gubernatorial candidate Robert Reich is only 4' 11". Many successful people are short or overweight - it is clear that the obese and height-challenged can get ahead without government intervention. There is no glass ceiling. The discrimination and abuse faced by women and blacks cannot honestly be compared to the obstacles faced by the short and overweight.
This bill would encourage the acceptance of unhealthy, dangerous dietary practices. It is supported by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). NAAFA is a self-described "human rights organization" that seeks to "promote acceptance of fat people within society." But the fact is that obesity predisposes individuals to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. We should not let political correctness endanger people's health.
NAAFA has vocally opposed public health campaigns encouraging children to lose weight. It sued a police department in Southern California over a "No Fat Cops" poster, claiming a hostile workplace was created for a "plus-size sheriff's deputy." These activists will be bringing more lawsuits if this bill passes.
We need fewer fat cops. Obese children should be encouraged to lose weight. Efforts to achieve these common-sense goals could be blocked if this bill is passed.
Bullying in the workplace isn't something anyone wants to see happen; employees shouldn't be belittled because of their stature or girth. But that does not mean that they should be going to court and settling for millions, which would happen if the bill were to pass. It is in the interest of a business to keep their employees happy and productive. If someone feels unfairly treated, he should talk to his boss about it. This solution, while imperfect, is better than wave of frivolous lawsuits.
This bill would let practically every disgruntled worker sue his employer. Everyone who's been passed over for a promotion, they could take their case to court in Massachusetts. It might be baseless, but it would still waste a lot of time and money. Even if a business might decide to just settle and avoid the hassle, the costs will be passed on to consumers in higher prices and lower quality services. That isn't good for anyone.
Xander Zebrose is a sophomore majoring in economics. He can be reached at Alexander.Zebrose@tufts.edu.
