Drug testing for Welfare?

[EH31 2,518]

I got into an argument over this today. Just wondering your all's thoughts.

 

Should there be periodic drug tests for eligibility to recieve welfare?

[Guest The Variable]

I got into an argument over this today. Just wondering your all's thoughts.

 

Should there be periodic drug tests for eligibility to recieve welfare?

 

yup. They dont give that stuff away. You you are pissing hot, you are pissing away someone elses money.

[beaverbaseball 10]

Should there be periodic drug tests for eligibility to recieve welfare?

 

Yes...

[hokie07 11]

yup. They dont give that stuff away. You you are pissing hot, you are pissing away someone elses money.

 

True, but I know many successful people who hold steady jobs and high paying careers, making well into 6-figures, that couldn't pass a drug test to save their life.

 

Not saying that life is fair, and that all people should have the ability to do drugs if they can afford it, that's another issue.

 

It would be a start, as most places require a drug test to even get a job, but it is almost like sending the message, "Get a job and then you can do drugs", which is probably just as retroactive in the long run... but it isn't costing the taxpayer's money.

 

I don't hate welfare all together, but the blatant abuse of the welfare system is something that I really hate, and drugs is just a minor problem in the grand scheme of things.

Edited December 16, 2011 by hokie07

[Guest The Variable]

True, but I know many successful people who hold steady jobs and high paying careers, making well into 6-figures, that couldn't pass a drug test to save their life.

 

Thats on them...Im not being forced to dole out their dope money through taxes.

[deuceswild 15]

True, but I know many successful people who hold steady jobs and high paying careers, making well into 6-figures, that couldn't pass a drug test to save their life.

 

Not saying that life is fair, and that all people should have the ability to do drugs if they can afford it, that's another issue.

 

It would be a start, as most places require a drug test to even get a job, but it is almost like sending the message, "Get a job and then you can do drugs", which is probably just as retroactive in the long run... but it isn't costing the taxpayer's money.

 

I don't hate welfare all together, but the blatant abuse of the welfare system is something that I really hate, and drugs is just a minor problem in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

 

Pretty much this. And at what cost? Drug testing costs money too. I don't doubt many welfare abusers are users but we're also forcing a multitude of honest and unfortunate people to go through an unnecessary process. If the cost to implement it could justify it, then I'm not against it.

[Guest The Variable]

Pretty much this. And at what cost? Drug testing costs money too. I don't doubt many welfare abusers are users but we're also forcing a multitude of honest and unfortunate people to go through an unnecessary process. If the cost to implement it could justify it, then I'm not against it.

 

I had to do it in the military. Twice a year. I pee in cup. They take cup. That is about all there is to it. Plus I would rather the money go to keeping the system from being abused than wasting it allowing the system to be abused.

 

The Taxpayers are now paying your way. We have a right to know that it isnt being thrown away on the wrong things. Same with food stamps. An easy way to prevent this would be to issue these things to people. Food, Water, Shelter, Clothes. Issue it and do not allow them to have access to some sort of legal tender given by the government.

[deuceswild 15]

I had to do it in the military. Twice a year. I pee in cup. They take cup. That is about all there is to it. Plus I would rather the money go to keeping the system from being abused than wasting it allowing the system to be abused.

 

The Taxpayers are now paying your way. We have a right to know that it isnt being thrown away on the wrong things. Same with food stamps. An easy way to prevent this would be to issue these things to people. Food, Water, Shelter, Clothes. Issue it and do not allow them to have access to some sort of legal tender given by the government.

 

It's not a free service to look through millions of people's pee.

 

That sounds a little to commie to me.

[Guest The Variable]

It's not a free service to look through millions of people's pee.

 

That sounds a little to commie to me.

 

Right, but if it is an even trade off, Ill take people doing the right thing (drug testing) over the wrong thing (allowing drug use).

 

Welfare IS commie. Might as well do it right if you are going to do it.

 

Personally, I would do away with welfare altogether. There are plenty of outlets of charity (ie Churches, Caritas, Salvation Army, Goodwill to name the largest of the vast multitude of organizations out there.) that are perfectly able to pick up the slack. We have people who exist for the entirety of their lives on welfare who are perfectly able to work but just are not willing. There is a culture within the US of poor people who are content to be poor and not work and complain about people of means. The war on poverty has been the biggest failure in recent American history, even worse than the war on drugs. Welfare is a white elephant.

[GMan 3,569]

Should there be periodic drug tests for eligibility to recieve welfare?

 

Yes, without a doubt.

[sportsfan 21]

This seems like a slippery slope. As long as all Federal, state,postal or anyone receiving any type payment from the federal government have to take the same test...I'm OK with it. That being said, the cost associated with drug testing is just going to swell the cost of welfare. I do not like the idea of my tax dollars supporting drug addiction but the idea of drug testing the majority of innocent folks who need a hand up, seems to be pouring gasoline on an already unfortunate situation.

 

I have a friend, who just came back from serving 3 stints in the middle east and he and his family is on welfare. Boy, I have to swallow hard if I have to see him take a drug test after serving his country. I also know of a senior citizen (on social security that I am paying for) who sell their medicine (a drug dealer). This is a tough issue that one could easily wax over and say testing should be done but I'm not so sure.

 

I'm not sure what the right answer is. How do we step on someone who is just down on their luck or recently layed off? Without major modifications to the across the board testing, I for one, am against it. God forbid it's that soldier coming home, or your parents, brother,sisters or some other family member that must swallow their pride and sign up for welfare, and then be handed a cup and asked to pay for a drug test.

 

Lastly, have you ever been into one of those offices? I have heard horror stories about how the folks are treated by government workers. I have been into other federal/state offices and seen the state/federal worker's who do not care, way too often. Imagine those folks now looking down their noses at that soldier and treating him like a criminal. I just have not met too many state or federal workers who treat the public with decency and kindness. I must say it does pi#s me off thinking of some low life drug dealer getting welfare. Next...

Edited December 16, 2011 by sportsfan

[BHS03 99]

Yes.

[Guest The Variable]

This seems like a slippery slope. As long as all Federal, state,postal or anyone receiving any type payment from the federal government have to take the same test...I'm OK with it. That being said, the cost associated with drug testing is just going to swell the cost of welfare. I do not like the idea of my tax dollars supporting drug addiction but the idea of drug testing the majority of innocent folks who need a hand up seems to be pouring gasoline on an already unfortunate situation.

I am not sure about all of the government workers, but I do know that the military community is heavily drug screened and we have to be watched when we test. Thats right, someone has to stare at another mans junk while he takes a whiz. Meaning your buddy who just got back is used to it. I have been there and done that. Drug testing is really not a big deal the way it is done anywhere else. You do it at the docs office for a physical. It seems a pretty small thing given the fact that you are now being GIVEN money without earning it. Sorry about your friend though. Right now is not the time to be getting out for Veterans if they do not already have a job lined up. I wish him the best.

 

Lastly, have you ever been into one of those offices? I have heard horror stories about how the folks are treated by government workers. I have been into other federal/state offices and seen the state/federal worker who does not care way too often. Imagine those folks now looking down their noses at that soldier and treating him like a criminal. I just have not met too many state or federal workers who treat the public with decency and kindness. I must say it does pi#s me off thinking of some low life drug dealer getting welfare. Next...

My wife works a DSS and we carpool. I see the parking lot every day. You would be suprized how many brand new cars you see pulling up to the building with folks picking up their check. Brand new wheels, wearing expensive name-brand clothes and sunglasses and multiple kids (who often look a mess in comparrison.) And I can attest that the majority of the people who work in my local DSS do nothing but sympathise and make excuses for every single person who comes through those doors. Everything I have seen at that office has made me even MORE of an opponent to Welfare.

[tjhokies 47]

YES! 100% Working people have to take random drug tests, why shouldn't they take one? My wife has a lady that works for her 8-12 hours per week, she calls in the first of the month, like clockwork every month. I'm not saying she is doing drugs, but she gets a free check, just because she says her knees and back is bad. The lady is in her upper 30's and is 100 lbs overweight. Dont make sense to me.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

Florida's already tried this. In a state that's FAMOUS for cocaine, less than 2% of the tests came back positive. 1.6%, to be exact. The government would spend more money implementing this than it would save in withholding welfare from drug users. My answer: NO.

 

Now, revising the guidelines to where a cut finger doesn't qualify as a disability, let's talk about that.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

Pretty much this. And at what cost? Drug testing costs money too. I don't doubt many welfare abusers are users but we're also forcing a multitude of honest and unfortunate people to go through an unnecessary process. If the cost to implement it could justify it, then I'm not against it.

 

You foresaw what I was going to post...

[EH31 2,518]

I know a person pretty good thats about 27 years old. He married this girl, had 2 kids with her. Neither of them have ever held a job. They both sit at home & recieve a ridiculous amount of money from the government in general welfare, food stamps, & a disability type check for the kids. Together they bring in over $2,000 a month. Plus go to food pantries, salvation army, & have the christian action pay their electric bills. They live in a shlt house, don't have a car, and keep their kids filthy, mainly because better than 50% of their income goes up their nose.

 

If I have to pay a little more out in taxes to get these people drug tested then I'm all for it. It's a sad situation.

[EH31 2,518]

& another thing..

 

I would love to see the numbers on how much Beer & Cigarettes are sold in the first few days of the month.

 

As much as i think the welfare system is flawed, I know there are people that deserve it. I think an improvement they could make is instead of checks to go to a debit card form, sort of like the EBT works. That way there could be provisions against welfare going towards beer & cigs.

[Lance 228]

sure...drug test people for anything, i don't do drugs so i dont care to piss in a bottle to get a job or for whatever reason...you can even watch if you want.

 

What I'd also like to see is some sort of IQ test and Lie Detector test for people who seek public office...i think that would do more good that any other sort of test you can give anyone.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

& another thing..

 

I would love to see the numbers on how much Beer & Cigarettes are sold in the first few days of the month.

 

As much as i think the welfare system is flawed, I know there are people that deserve it. I think an improvement they could make is instead of checks to go to a debit card form, sort of like the EBT works. That way there could be provisions against welfare going towards beer & cigs.

 

Your beer and cigarettes calculation would be flawed, because Social Security also comes out at the first of the month...

[tjhokies 47]

I know a person pretty good thats about 27 years old. He married this girl, had 2 kids with her. Neither of them have ever held a job. They both sit at home & recieve a ridiculous amount of money from the government in general welfare, food stamps, & a disability type check for the kids. Together they bring in over $2,000 a month. Plus go to food pantries, salvation army, & have the christian action pay their electric bills. They live in a shlt house, don't have a car, and keep their kids filthy, mainly because better than 50% of their income goes up their nose.

 

If I have to pay a little more out in taxes to get these people drug tested then I'm all for it. It's a sad situation.

 

I know several myself. The sad thing is they have no shame, they think they deserve it. My Uncle passed away about 8 years ago, he had retired early from a good job and they lived well. After his passing, it was discovered that because he didn't live to be 62, his wife would no longer receive his retirement check. She went on what i think was called widow's benefits(I may be wrong about what it was called) but anyway she got a monthly check for around 850 a month. She tried to get help, but because she owned her house and owned a vehicle, she was told she would receive around $15 dollars per month food stamps, what a joke. They told her to sell her house and car and she would qualify for benefits.

[sportsfan 21]

Florida's already tried this. In a state that's FAMOUS for cocaine, less than 2% of the tests came back positive. 1.6%, to be exact. The government would spend more money implementing this than it would save in withholding welfare from drug users. My answer: NO.

 

Now, revising the guidelines to where a cut finger doesn't qualify as a disability, let's talk about that.

 

Oh yeah, Florida governor Scott, just happens to own a drug testing company...hmmm

[Guest The Variable]

sure...drug test people for anything, i don't do drugs so i dont care to piss in a bottle to get a job or for whatever reason...you can even watch if you want.

 

What I'd also like to see is some sort of IQ test and Lie Detector test for people who seek public office...i think that would do more good that any other sort of test you can give anyone.

 

That wouldnt work because they would be the ones making up the questions. That means all the smart people would fail because they would give sensible answers.

[deuceswild 15]

That wouldnt work because they would be the ones making up the questions. That means all the smart people would fail because they would give sensible answers.

 

That confused me a little bit.

 

And I think Lance is just into dudes watching him go wee...and.. here I thought I was alone.

[Guest The Variable]

Your beer and cigarettes calculation would be flawed, because Social Security also comes out at the first of the month...

 

and therein lies the problem. You cannot run a socialistic program in a free and capitalist society without incredible fraud. Another example: Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

So if you are going to run welfare, you might as well do it like you should. Pay for the bare necessities and give no access to government money. You can get issued clothes and a given allotment of food, ect. If you want to be a ward of the state we need to start treating you like a ward of the state.