I'm retired from racing. Really.

Sorry...that's a lot of stress. A nice easy run may provide some relief or distraction.

I looked up a news clip on the walkout by GE employees. Conflicted feelings about vaccinations especially when they are mandated. I don't agree with that. However this vaccine has saved a lot of lives.

There's lots of things that can save a lot of lives- lowering the speed limit to 10 mph or getting rid of cars entirely. Outlawing sugar and smoking and alcohol. I don't want my kids growing up in a world where their ability to hold a job, attend school, go shopping, or do any other normal activity is dependent on mandates such as this.

I get it. I work at a hospital though. Perhaps see the bigger picture? This is not a government conspiracy for control.

I've had Covid. Many studies are now showing natural immunity is better than vaccines. For me, any mandates that don't account for natural immunity or risk levels don't deserve to be taken seriously. When I say risk level, I'm including my kids in that- when kids are at essentially zero risk, why are we trying to vaccinate 5 year olds?

Nothing new here- it's the points we've all been discussing for over a year. I just prefer to let people make their own decisions.

And Steve, whether or not it's a conspiracy for control, I was about to lose my job (and millions of people really will) over this. Is that not control? Is this really American? If someone has recovered from the disease and works from home, are we really going to fire him?

Jon, you have your personal decision to get the vaccine or not. GE is not taking that away from you. But in THEIR workplace, they have responsibility for ALL their employees safety and health. If your "choice" impacts the safety of others, they have a right and responsibility to protect them as well. This is a condition of employment for you, and a responsibility under the law for both GE and you. OSHA requires:

"Anticipation and Detection of Hazards

Two major keys to premier workplace safety are preparation and anticipation. In regards to preparation, it is important that both employees and managers are educated on how to handle potential dangerous situations. Anticipation is also necessary in identifying potential hazards that could cause illness or injury. OSHA states that these considerations must be followed by measures set up to protect employees from these potential occurrences.

There are many steps that can be taken in order to detect and identify hazards. Safety professionals should conduct a baseline hazard evaluation that entails a detailed inspection of the entire workplace. Such survey provides information about the types of hazards present, where they are located and the level of their severity. It is important to note, though, that an experienced professional should conduct this evaluation.

Regular workplace inspections should also be conducted in order to determine the status of potential hazards. The inspection enables companies to eliminate or control hazards detected during a baseline survey. For efficiency purposes, employees should be well trained to conduct quarterly hazards inspection.

Job-hazard analysis should also be performed in the workplace in order to identify, assess and control hazards that are associated with particular jobs. Job-hazard analysis involves the breakdown of jobs into tasks, each of which are then evaluated to determine the presence of a potential hazard. If hazards are discovered, they must be immediately eliminated.

Typically, such hazard analysis is conducted on jobs that have a history of near misses or accidents. Though the process may be complex, it has proven to be highly effective once fully implemented.

To effectively detect and anticipate hazards, it is essential to utilized data sheets. Employees should be trained to understand and use these data sheets in their daily work routines. If handling hazardous chemicals, employees should be well trained in how to avoid accidents due to negligence. Also, employees should wear protective outfits to avert any health or physical effects resulting from an accident.

Whenever there is a change of equipment, processes, or materials, management must establish measures to identify new hazards. Furthermore, in the cases of accidents, companies should investigate them accurately and thoroughly to determine their definite causes. A majority of workplace accidents are preventable; therefore, determining these causes enables managements to set up measures to eliminate further accidents."

If you made the 'choice' to come work impaired through use of a controlled substance which would then put coworkers in harms way, they company has a right and responsibility to deal with you and your decision. You can still get 'impaired' but do not have the right to do it at their workplace and endanger others.

I'm so sick of this crap. Jeff, that is such a load of BS to try to phrase it this way. Seriously, man???

Jeff, GE has been just fine with me working in the office with no vaccine for the past 18 months. They are only requiring it now due to Biden's executive order, so let's not in any way act like this is GE's decision. Normal diseases have never been classified as a workplace hazard like this and expanding it in this way is not per the laws governing OSHA and not per common sense. This is a top down, one-sized fits all order from Biden that will have a huge negative impact on people and the economy.

Example of negative impact: Me. How so? I've struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for years. After I was notified of my impending job lost, last week was, by far, the closest I have ever come to killing myself. My wife actually had multiple friends driving around town trying to find me, she was so worried. How many deaths of despair are you willing to cause to prevent one covid death for a disease that, for the young and healthy, is very, very low risk??? Seriously, think about how many people you are willing to put out of a job, keep out of school, and otherwise negatively impact their lives even to the point of suicide, drug overdose, etc. Millions of people will lose their jobs on Dec 8 due to Biden's executive order including many at my company.

Quite frankly, I'm ashamed of the human race and how easily we give in to this tyranny. Like I said, go back 2 years in time and try explaining to yourself that we are going to force 5 year old kids to take a vaccine for a disease that is less deadly than the common flu for kids if they want to attend school, or that we'll fire millions of workers for not getting a vaccine FOR A DISEASE THEY ALREADY HAD. The 2019 you would not believe what is happening, yet now we passively accept and even cheer it.

I'm seriously considering deleting this post cause it's just more of the same crap from people. I'm so sick of divisiveness. Maybe deleting my blog, too.

Peace out, everyone, and good luck with however you choose to live your life. I just suggest we love others and let them make their own decisions in life.