We are all entitled to our own opinions on any subject, but when those opinions collide with the obligations that come with the job we do - we step over a line that may be covered by various aspects of the law.
It seems that the owners of the general store at Wallabadah, a tiny town in northern NSW are avid Labor supporters. When the Daily Telegraph newspaper ran a headline critical of the Labor government, they chose to withdraw the paper from sale. This was quickly smoothed over - and the paper is back on the shelves - but some critics are quick to claim that this action was nothing more than " censorship " of what others are allowed to read.
Half a century ago a similar situation existed with contraception. The sale of condoms was restricted to chemist shops and it was illegal to display or advertise them. Contraception was banned by the Roman Catholic church, and most Catholic owned chemists declined to stock or sell condoms. In many small towns where there was only a single chemist shop - this became a case of an individual trader impose his or her religious views on the entire community. This debate continued when " the pill " became the most used form of contraception. Some Catholic doctors refused to write a script for it - and many Catholic owned chemists refused to dispense the scripted item.
Perhaps the greatest impost of all concerns union dues imposed on members of trade unions - and there are still many trades where subtle pressure requires anyone working in that trade to join the union - or face discrimination !
The unions are a legal voting force in the decision making process of the Australian Labor party and they provide funds to promote the party's prospects at election times, thus any member with an opposing political view is dragooned into financially supporting a political party that is not of their choice.
The opportunity for personal choice to intrude on obligations are fast crumbling. Contraception is openly on the shelf at most supermarkets and online chemists will supply any legitimate script. A shop that declines to stock a wanted product will quickly find the opposition filling that gap - and luring away customers.
The one glaring exception is the trade union movement and it's leech like association with the Labor political party. Surely political affiliation is a personal choice for each individual. A political donation should be a clearly defined part of the membership charge - and be subjected to an " opt out " option at the discretion of each member.
This seems to be a concept that may only be attained a long time into the future !
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