The reference in Revelation clearly suggests that it is the government dictating who may buy or sell and the criteria for which someone will be able to do business with such persons.
A private individual or company setting up its own criteria for whom it will hire or do business is the essence of Liberty. The Government dictating that criteria is the essence of tyranny.
It is interesting to see that there are a lot of freepers on this thread advocating for tyranny without even realizing it. They recommend the newbie sue the employer for establishing his own hiring parameters and not hiring him because he is a smoker.
Did you know that in California it is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire a man who comes to the interview dressed as a woman?
If I had one position, 10 applicants, and one was a man dressed like a woman, are you saying that I have no discretion in California regarding hiring the best qualified? That I must hire the cross-dresser whether best qualified or not out of the 10?
In that case, I guess all will show up cross-dressed, because that's a crazy rule.