Citing concerns of the high price of freedom in America, Sarasota County, Florida recently instituted their fascist tobacco-free hiring policy for all new job applicants. The policy requires everyone applying for a job with the county to acknowledge that they have not smoked in the last 12 months.

All applicants will be tested for tobacco use during a new-hire physical exam to determine if they have been using tobacco products and if they have, they will not be hired.

Apparently, Sarasota County Administrator Jim Ley believes the nanny state is more enlightened to care for its citizens and individual freedom is too high a price to pay for gainful employment. Ley said by curtailing the freedoms of some should help limit the annual growth of their budget and permit them to better reward others more deserving of taxpayer money.

Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson was initially against discriminating in its hiring practices, but after being persuaded by fellow conspirators said "We could potentially lose some very valuable employees but all things being equal it's probably a good thing." Satasota County wants only employees who support their fascist party platform.

In Florida, other government agencies that refuse to hire smokers range from the sheriff's offices in Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties to the city of Atlantic Beach. Manatee County employees who are smokers are discriminated against in lower pay and are forced to attend behavior modification meetings where they are subjected to state sponsored propaganda.