I understand the argument against a state government telling a private business it cannot require its employees to receive a COVID vaccine. I understand the principle behind such a position. But I struggle immensely with it for multiple reasons.
First of all, this is a health care decision that is being made. What other health care decisions are we willing to allow private business to force their employees to make — or else?
I am sure it is easier for a business not to have women go through a pregnancy and take maternity leave. Does this mean an employer should be allowed to require female employees to use birth control? And if birth control doesn’t work, does it mean an employer should have the power to require female employees to have abortions?
Second, the government tells private businesses what they can or can’t do all the time. Let’s not pretend we don’t have rules and regulations.
Third, the government tells private businesses it cannot hire or fire based on all sorts of factors — race, age, disability, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.
Fourth, this is not about a private employer. This is about whether residents of Iowa who work at Iowa companies should be able to be forced to have something injected into their body as terms for employment. It does not benefit the government to have people out of work — especially in the health care industry in the midst of a “pandemic.”
Fifth, the government’s first duty is to the citizens, not private businesses.
Sixth, the government is using federal funds to incentivize places requiring vaccinations.
The reality is even these private businesses were at the front of the line for public dollars last year to survive the pandemic. Not to mention there are all sorts of other tools private businesses benefit from through state and local governments.
I cannot recall one single person I know objecting to a bill introduced by Rep. Steve Holt to ban employers from requiring or incentivizing the microchipping of employees.
That’s because an employee’s body doesn’t belong to the employer once that employee is off the clock. Putting something inside that employee’s body will stick with them after they clock out and is entirely inappropriate.
Again, I understand the principle of behind the hesitation of a government telling a business what it can or can’t do. I get it. And I understand we’re setting a precedent, but again, the government has all sorts of rules and regulations businesses have to follow every single day.
But we have to remember who comes first. It is the citizen, not private business.
