Political Beliefs and Punishment

What I've read in these 2 threads today has saddened me deeply

Thread: Received my pink slip today

and

Thread: Kid Fired From Job for Supporting Obama


What is this country descending into when some of start saying it's ok to punish someone for their political beliefs

while you may agree or disagree with someones politics, this is a very slippery path to start down......what's next?

punishing people for:

believing in Christianity, Budda, Hindu, no religion at all...etc

or

firing people from jobs for having brown eyes(or blue)

how about low IQ, say below 110, you test below 110...here's your pink slip

I could go on and on with examples but just look at yourself and ask how you are different from the guy/gal next to you...how would you like to be "punished" for that difference?

This country was founded on Freedoms, Freedom to and Freedom from...

I understand that some of you are angry at the state of things but to but to celebrate someone getting "punished" for expressing one of our freedoms is the WRONG road to take