Posted on 01/02/2012 7:22:04 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Texas Representative Ron Paul today stood by statements he made in his 1987 book arguing that someone who is a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace should bear some responsibility for resolving the problem and that society should not bear the burden of paying for the care of AIDS victims.
In his 1987 book “Freedom Under Siege: The US Constitution after 200-Plus Years,” Paul wrote about sexual harassment in the workplace, “Why don’t they quit once the so-called harassment starts? Obviously the morals of the harasser cannot be defended, but how can the harassee escape some responsibility for the problem?’’
In another passage, Paul wrote, “The individual suffering from AIDS certainly is a victim - frequently a victim of his own lifestyle - but this same individual victimizes innocent citizens by forcing them to pay for his care.”
On Fox News Sunday this morning, host Chris Wallace asked Paul, now a top contender in the Republican presidential race, whether he still agreed with those statements.
On the sexual harassment issue, Paul distinguished between verbal and physical harassment but said neither one warranted a federal law to prevent it.
“If it’s just because somebody told a joke to somebody who was offended, they don’t have a right to go to the federal government and have a policeman come in and put penalties on those individuals,” Paul said of verbal harassment. “They have to say maybe this is not a very good environment. They have the right to work there or not work there.”
Paul continued: “Because people are insulted by rude behavior, I don’t think we should make a federal case about it. I don’t think we need federal laws to deal with that. People should deal with that at home.”
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Sigh. I’m not talking about plain rudeness. I had many bosses who were bizarre and I simply left the job. In NYC, psycho bosses are a dime a dozen. I’m talking about sexual harrassment - criminal activity.
I am a Christian so it wouldn’t have worked on me. I would have choices. People who are not Christians don’t have the same level of withstanding evil.
Perhaps if you had been in such a situation your faith might have saved your career but I'm fairly certain that women of equal if not greater faith have suffered from equal or greater evils.
Bosses can’t assault workers—Criminal activity is already against the law. What are you talking about?
We have laws against physically harming other people. We don’t need “harassment” laws more business regulations which costs more money-—which are like “hate crimes” and just about “hurt” feelings or whatever ends up being a lawyers wet dream and make judges wealthy and politicians wealthy.
We need free markets and free association. No one has to work for anyone else, if they “feel” uncomfortable in a free economy. They can start up their own business. But we are strangled now with regulations and no freedom—it makes us slaves to the more politically connected—the abusers-—the Chicago gang types.
Freedom is the only thing, and The Rule of Law—Just Law—is the ONLY thing which protects people. More government “laws” and intrusion into lawful businesses are the real oppression of freedom and make us slaves—having to work for abusive people and “JUDGES” decide who should be fined for their thoughts or statements.
You get all sorts of corruption and slander and the power to destroy people by slander WHICH IS ALWAYS THE RESULT OF SUCH STUPID laws.
Let me ask you: is following an employee into an empty office and trying to kiss her constitute criminal behavior?
I just hope no one who disbelieves in something called sex harrassment EVER has a daughter. And if they do, I don’t want to hear that those kids have been brought up to deal with it (you know, hitting the boss with a karate chop to the neck and then - somehow - going on to become CEO of the company). Employment doesn’t work like that. Young girls - and I’m gonna be sexist here - especially the pretty ones - are often victims of corrupt, sly employers.
I thought we all learned that from Monica Lewinsky and the vile Bill Clinton. Her name was made a by-word for oral sex - something that lady will take to her grave.
Yes—it is physical assault. There are laws that exist that addresses this-—doesn’t need to be an “employer”.
Happened to me in the 1980s. While I knew this was unacceptable, I certainly didn’t think there were any laws to protect me. And I certainly knew that no other employee would take my part against “The Boss” - including HR. Besides, I needed the job.
Yep, a lot of non-real-world posturing on this thread.
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