Unhealthy. Unpaid. Undeserving?

This November, Ohio voters will have the chance to vote on a mandate requiring many of the state's businesses to provide sick days to their workers. If passed, any business with twenty five or more employees would have to offer seven paid sick days to its employees. According to a story in The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Ohio Business Roundtable will be spending $1 million dollars to air television and radio ads in opposition of the proposed mandate.

Now, being pretty liberal in my political views, I know I do not have to tell you who I feel sorry for (for whom I feel sorry...that's for any grammar buffs who might be reading). The poor Business Roundtable, who is going to have to spend so much money. I mean, a million dollars? Let me put that in perspective for you. Go to your wallet or purse and grab a dollar bill. Go ahead, I'll wait. Are you back? Ok. See your dollar bill? Now, imagine 999,999 more of those. Startling, isn't it?

The Ohio Business Roundtable is made up of approximately 160 CEOs, none of whom receive sick days or any other kind of benefits. In fact, I read a recent study that stated 54% of American CEOs only have two homes. Honestly, readers, what kind of society do we live in?

Supporters of this issue argue that there are nearly 2.2 million Ohio workers who are unable to take a sick day if they are ill. That seems like a huge number. But, once again, let me put it into perspective. The state of Ohio is home to somewhere between 3 million and 11.5 million people. The exact number is not known because, the one time we tried to count, nobody would hold still.
Assuming the latter number is true, that means that only 19% of Ohio residents are unable to take a sick day. That's less than half; perhaps even less than a quarter. There are more people who think that George W. Bush is a good president than there are Ohioans who cannot take a sick day. How's that for a perspective?

Another argument is that 330,000 Ohioans who work in the food service industry cannot take a sick day. I say, their loss, my gain. Think about it. Sally Server (Wendy Waitress) has the stomach flu and sneezes in your Lumberjack Slam breakfast at Denny's. That's antibodies, people! Those germs will help to build your immune system. I mentioned in a previous post that I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure that's a true statement. Besides, if servers and cooks can take paid days off, who is going to spit in Bill O'Reilly's food the next time he visits Sylvia's Cafe?

Now, I'm sure that the Ohio Business Roundtable is going to be fair about this. I'm sure that, when we start seeing their adds on televisions, they are not just going to attack the private sector. Every single federal and state employee in the state of Ohio is eligible for sick days. Surely, the Business Roundtable will make this an issue, too. Don't be surprised if you hear a call to end that as well. Surely, the group of business leaders are just as concerned with the taxpayer money that funds sick days as they are with their own money. Here's an interesting thought; those who don't get sick days themselves are actually paying for government workers' sick days. That really speaks to the generosity of the American People.

I, for one, am quite excited to see these upcoming ads. Come on over and watch them with my family and me. We can fire up the hibachi, break out the Boone's Farm, and have a heck of a time. Of course, the commercial is probably only 30 seconds long, so somebody may have to bring Yahtzee to pass the rest of the evening.