People support mandatory drug tests for welfare recipients
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Absolutely! I really detest giving my hard earned money to a welfare recipient who spends it on drugs, cigarettes and alcohol! It is unbelievable that the ACLU and other liberal groups are opposed to this. In reality, if we get the druggies off welfare, there will be more money for those who truly need the temporary support welfare can provide. I'm a Registered Nurse, who works in Labor & Delivery. More than 50% of the welfare recipients also smoke. Let me ask this of the welfare recipients...if you have $10 extra each day to support your smoke habit, why do you need welfare? That $300 month that currently goes up in smoke would buy a lot of groceries and gas. Welfare recipients should first have to do something to help themselves, before they stick their hand out for the taxpayers money.
It's on you to proove they actually SPENT MONEY on the drugs, if that is the ultimate reason you are for drug testing them.
Drugs like marijuana can be FREELY grown.
And, many times peolpe smoke on a occasion, from OTHER peoples stashes..
I don't see how adding additonal misery to their lives solves ANYTHING.
Be truthful, you hate the idea of someone smoking a plant you disagree with, therefore you want to be able to bash them ANYWAY you can.
What's next, make it against the law for them to go see a movie, because that is a "Unwise way to spend our tax payer money"?
I believe that drug testing should required. And for the people that say marijuana is freely grown, yes it is, but we're not talking about marijuana, we're talking about pills, crack, Ice, etc... All that stuff cost money, which is what 80% of welfare recipients are on. With the economy like it is now days, the ones that are actually working and still receiving benefits deserve it, the ones that sit at home and do drugs all day and send their kids to daycare, because they get assistance, is not right. They would much rather sit at home and do drugs, with no kids around the actually be out looking for a job, or even more spending time with their kids. That's teaching your kids how to cheat the system. I'll admit I get assistance fromt the government, but I also work.
Where did you get 80%? Back up your statement please.
why don't you since your asking
Obvioulsy, he/she pulled that statistic out of his/her rear end.
I totally agree with you. I live in Flint, MI. I had to stop working because I couldn't afford daycare, while my friends who stayed home all day hanging out had theirs paid for??? Wasn't fair. But oh well, gives me a chance to go to school and better myself. And NO i am not on assistance right now.
Why should we pay for people who supposely got no money to buy food but yet they got money to buy drugs? or parents who starve their children for their bad habbits? and we are not just talking about marijuana we are talking about those other drugs plus if they choose to be in misery why should we pay for it get a job and maybe your life wont be so bad dont you think?
The same goes for people that are working for the money to pay the taxes that pay welfare. The majority of employers do drug tests and if an employee is found with drugs in their system they are usually terminated. Do you think it would matter if they say " well I didn't pay for the drugs, I grow them or smoke someone else's stash"? How can you justify that the people working for the money can be made to take drug tests but the one getting the handout should not? I'm not saying that no one deserves welfare- I do understand that there are people out there that really do need it, but at the same time there are a lot of people taking advantage of the system and as a taxpayer I would like to know that my hard earned dollars are going to those that really need it and not just being lazy and irresponsible.
Hello! That is a small chunk of the change. How about all these overpaid officials? They get high and preside over trials. I read somewhere that a Dr. is 75% more likely to be addicted to presription meds because nobody holds them accountable.
Likewise, the burden of proof is on you to prove they're not spending it on that. Whether or not someone chooses to do drugs is up to them. If that that's what they want on their death certificate, I could care less.
If they want to WORK and pay into the system to support their own habit, then hey, more power to 'em,
They shouldn't get to sit on their asses and smoke while someone else picks up the slack, However, no legitimate company will hire a drug addict or a pot head. If you have to be drug tested to get and keep a job, you should also be grug tested to get and keep welfare! It really isn't about "Doing drugs," it's about they money they get grom the govermenet to pay for their drugs. I'm fully aware drug testing for government aid isn't going to make people get off drugs, it's going to prevent them from receiving taxpayers hard-earned money that THEY NEVER SEE because it's going to support someone's illegal habit.
Ok, keep on trying to get people to prove something but here's the deal....I work in a gas station. I see people drive up in their brand spanking new Lexus, Benz, Jaguar, etc...and use food stamps...I see people come in and buy loads of beer and cigarettes...then pull out an unemployment card. Just yesterday, a woman with her daughter came in, the woman went to the beer cooler and grabbed a 24pk of Corona and then asked for a carton of Marlboro's. Her daughter asked if she could get an orange juice (and her daughter was probably only 5 years old)...the woman told her no because she didn't have enough money. Then she whipped out her unemployment benefits card.
The majority of people I know receiving any sort of government aid are on hard drugs. Most of them make a LOAD more money than they claim to make on applications because it's all under the table. I receive food stamps so that I can feed my toddler and wife. I buy beer maybe once a month, and I've had to quit smoking altogether because I can't afford it...so how can these other people??? Because they're liars, cheaters, and need to be drug tested! Drug testing will decrease the amount of scumbags taking advantage of the system. I'm also in college. Somehow, these same people get away with dropping all their classes every semester after receiving that financial aid check...how? I have no clue because I lost my financial aid for having to drop some classes because I found a new job that conflicted with my school schedule. It's all about making minorities and lower class happy. I'm a white male with a job and a house, so apparently I'm not worthy of help but those cracked out and beating their babies are.
It also might actually help individuals get off drugs and clean up their act, that way if they really do NEED assistance, they can get clean and get a job in the process.
For that welfare recipient that does not agree on a mandatory drug test go get a job, and be a man.I don't believe they should even go to a movie. I myself work and pay taxes for those people and can't afford to go to movies myself so why should they go on my money. Why should they also drive Lexus and Denali's. Most tax payers can't even drive them. Most just have kids to draw more money. I know a woman that was told by her dad to stop working because you can make more money on welfare.
I think you're just mad, Have you seen half of the lives people lead that do drugs? first off, It had nothing todo with just "a plant" noone was aiming at just that, a prime example of what people are talking about, which I guess you don't understand, My friend growing up, had a crack head mom, on food stamps for 7 kids and she was on section 8 and she took from the government, while popping out kids, and did drugs, she did everything from pot/meth/crack/ any sort of back reliever medicine (addictively), so what SHE was trying to say was, is that those people are on welfare. taking from the people that are really trying to get up in the world, I would know I spent 4 years homeless due to the fact my mother was abusive, so where's that lead people that want to get a place? and assistance? oh wait, that's right IN LINE behind all the other people, while the people that abuse the system get help. Maybe you'll understand that one day, instead of being so defensive over mary J like it was some hippy target aim. anyways that is all from me, It makes me sick to see what we the people have to wait for, this all falls into the moronic category of giving homeloans to people with 100k in debt, and credit cards, its ALL the same, we the consumer suffer, while they just toss out handouts of welfare and loans to everyone.
I go to work everyday, money is taken out of my paychecks in the form of taxes and given to the government, the government then distributes it as it deems necessary. Welfare recipients receive their money from money that is taken out of every tax payers paycheck. I think we have a right to say I'm not willing to support someones drug habits when I'm working everyday for a paycheck and struggling to get by. In the mean time, money I made is being handed to someone else so that they can do drugs in their recreational time?? Why does that not make sense to me!
Oh, and by the way, my job randomly drug tests me. If I test positive, I lose my job. Why should the same not apply to some who is not working and collecting benefits from the government?
If america drug tests for almost every job, then welfare recipiants should also be drug tested. If we have to quit smoking weed to get a job and have to give our hard earned money on people who are doing something that we cant cause of our jobs then is that fair? and the way we will prove that they are smoking weed will be the drug testing genius,and if they test positive then their benifits should be terminated
yeah that is true that they can smoke someone elses stash but again! My husband cannot smoke someone elses stash cause he will be drug tested and lose his job which helps support welfare recipients. Regardless of how they get the drugs they should not get to do it. My husband doesn''t!
jersey shore is way more offensive to society than marijuana. why the hell is that legal? weed helps people who are sick depressed, anxious, or just plain bored. and i'll bet you 50 bucks watching five minutes of jersey shore destroys more brain cells way faster than smoking any amount of pot ever will.
wait... what message board is this?
oh yeah, keep giving feebies to crack heads, it's in the constitution some where, right?
Thats right if you can't pay for your own movie then stay home and watch the tv from an antenna, Why should I have to work my rear end off so I can pay my bills while someone else does nothing and goes to see a movie that I can NOT afford to take my family to because I'm taxed so high because I'm paying the non tax payersw way
People in asistance should be drug tested. If they have a perscription fo rmedical marajuana they should have the levels in their systems tested along with every one else that is on any kind of perscription medication. There are far too many people abusing these drugs and their children are the victims of it all. They will take their assistance be it cash or food stamps and trade them for drugs. You have to realize hoew severe this problem is. It is not only about beong tested for thc but all drugs. and the levels of the drugs you ahve in your system for the scripts that you have. I do not have any thing against people on assistance i myself recieved assistance, but i did no tspend the money or food stamps on things i did not HAVE to have. it is rediculous to see how many people will do what ever it takes to get a pill to swallow or snort up their nose and yet they sit and gather assistance to support these sickening habits. wake up...this testing should be done without notice to who ever they may want to test.
Hello! I am writing a research paper on this specific paper for a class. If you are so worried about the children suffering, why are you suggesting that their drug addicted parents be drug tested resulting in the welfare being taken away, and causing more suffering to these children? Do you really think that by taking the welfare away from the drug addicts that they will use the money that they DO earn on their children to buy food, clothes, health insurance, ect.? I don't. Why cause these children in these situations more suffering than they already have by being abused and neglected by their parents?
If the parent comes back positive for drugs then the children should be taken from the home....so then they dont have to suffer. The only one that suffers from the loss of benefits is the drug addict.
You must recieve welfare???
Drugs are illegal and should not be used anyway. Last time I checked going to the movies are legal.
My company drug tests. I am paid for the work I do for my company. I pay taxes, a portoin of which go to pay those who rely upon welfare. I will not withhold anything from someone who needs something, and while willing is unable to earn it. I do however believe that those I support should have the same requirements that I do when it comes to use of illegal substances.
Why should hard-working taxpayers have to give their money to some junkie trying to get a fix? People on hard drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, barbiturates, methadone) shouldn't be given money, because they'll just spend it on drugs, which will end up killing them and worsening the social situation. If these drug tests were carried out, people would be able, if they tested positive for narcotics, to receive help and support to free themselves from their addictions. If people don't test positive for narcotics, which will usually be the case, then they get their money and that's that. But no taxpayer should pay for some druggie to get their next fix!
Nothing is saved on this plan and more trouble is created. Where is the money to come from to help these people get the help they need? More govenment workers? Great, now the supposed dredges of society are still draining public funds. Great solution.
That philosophy is exactly what it wrong with our society, they dont need our help, they need to go ahead and get clean on their own merit. The government need not be attached to that bill. It sounds cold and heartless but if some starve to death because they put all their money to coke then so be it, one less burden on our society.
Before the Michigan policy was halted, only 10% of recipients tested positive for illicit drugs. Only 3% tested positive for hard drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines – rates that are in line with the drug use rates of the general population. Seventy percent of all illicit drug users (and presumably a much higher percentage of alcohol users), ages 18-49, are employed full-time. If we kick them off welfare you do realize that they will only resort to more illicit means of providing themselves an income. That doesn't support your 50%.
Another way to measure the cost is by counting what it costs to “catch” each drug user. Drug testing is not used by many private employers because of the exorbitant cost of catching each person who tests positive. One electronics manufacturer, for example, estimated that the cost of finding each person who tested positive was $20,000, since after testing 10,000 employees, only 49 tested positive. A congressional committee also estimated that the cost of each positive drug test of government employees was $77,000, because the positive rate was only 0.5%
.Maybe karma will teach you a lesson when you get robbed by a still crack addicted former welfare recipient.
You took your whole little story from a story written by the ACLU. Do you not have any of your own. This was pure plagirism on your part. All of the statistics are skewed by each group to give it's interpetation of fact. If it is only 10% that means that fourteen thousand people receiving welfare in Michigan were using these funds to buy drugs. Now think about the 3%, how many of them are addicted to crack? what percentage is female? Now what percent of them are pregnant carrying babies. How many children are born in this country every year either addicted to drugs or with some disabilatating problem, like kidney failure, brain disirders, mental retardation and the list go on. How much does that cost the taxpayers, most of these children require benefits for life because we as a society don't want to step on civil rights. Well it is time to start and if drug testing helps then lets do it.
Very well said!!!! And wasn't that only 3 counties in Michigan? What about other area's of the country? Michigan had a treatment plan for those busted using drugs could enter and pass. Their welfare wasn't just getting stripped from them, they had a choice to get clean and get help or not.
Well said!
If welfare recipients can afford to smoke cigarettes then they can afford to buy food. I agree with welfare drug testing. It is one thing to help out those who truely need it but If those same people can afford cigarettes but not food than they need to seriosly rethink their priorties. I feel the governments also needs to monator the items welfare reciipients are getting with the food stamps/ money. This help should be for necessities not for pop, chips, candy and other such junk food. I also feel that government help should be only a stepping stone to get you back on your feet NOT a lifestyle. There should be a time limit one qualifies for help such as a 2 year limit.
ok thare are people that does drugs that has jobs and yes thare are people that dont have jobs getting hand outs and using it for drugs. question is what would u rather have. some one that has a job driving up and down the road every day working and being under the influence of drugs with a high chance of killing some one while behind the wheel or on the job wich that some one could be u that they killed. or let these people take the hand out do thare drugs in thare home being lazy and get even more out of shape and die in thare own home with out having a chance of some innocent people getting harm. i know people that works and they tell me that some people in that work area snorts crack and does lsd. well my friend was a janator sweaping the floors and he ended up with a fork in his back and killed him cause the driver on the fork lift was loaded with crack. so i rather if they are in thare homes doing it then at a works place
What you seem to be missing here is that even though they are sitting at home doing their drugs they are damaging the children that they are suppose to be using these funds to support. Why not test them and get them the help to get off the drugs to make their lives and their families lives more worthwhile.
There will not be extra money for the welfare recipients like you stated because of the cost of drug testing all those people 12 times a year. If their is extra money, the Politicians will find new ways to put it in their pockets and not spend it on Education, welfare, or anything to improve our country.
Just wanted to make sure that the registered nurse realizes that all druggies are not welfare reciptents. Recent research has shown that 20% of nurses, who are trusted to care for people who can't care for themselves, are "druggies". State Boards of Nurses do not take their licenses and kick them out of nursing. They take money paid by other nurses in fees for licensure and form CARE programs to help them get off. Just because someone has a written script for their nerve and pain pills doesn't mean they to are not abusing or addicted to drugs, no more than finding a positive in a screening test makes a person an addict. I am ashamed of you. I would think a registered nurse would know better.
The idea is not that someone is addicted to or abusing drugs, but instead that recepients of Medicare and Medicaid services should not be using illegal substances. There are states that have medical marijuana cards, my own being one of them, and I have been told by someone who has both Medicare and Medicaid that they have been smoking marijuana for 24 years, are not going to stop any time soon, but who also refuse to apply for the card. What gives? I think there are more deserving people out there who could use that money. I have to work and hold down a job illegal drug-free...why shouldn't they?
If I have to take a drug test to pay for thier welfare, F yes they should also have to take a drug test to receive my money!
What about the people that are on a LEGAL Medical Marijuana prescription ? Will this law try and tamper with those legal rights ? The shame of this country is people like Bush who enjoyed prying on other peoples lives. I do agree with the law, but only if Medical Marijuana patients are left alone. In many states it is a legal right to use Marijuana for medical purposes.
My worries with this law is that a lot of good people's lives could be turned up side down.
People that are disabled ARE DISABLED ! I think this law should also leave disabled people on SSI Alone !
Trying to reform Disabled people is disrespectful, interfering with their lives is completely unexceptable.
The percentage of people ACTUALLY on medical marijuana is soo small it's practically irrelevant. Secondly, Hey let's blame George W Bush for everything...Swine flu-George W's fault
I totaly AGREE with you 100%!
Welfare recipients should be required to take a drug test, and if they meet the requirements, go through the appropriate treatment needed on an individual bases. being a recovering, recovered addict myself, i have witnessed welfare recipients on drugs supporting their habits by using their cash assistance or by selling there foodstamps to others, even some stores accept them for 50cents on the dollar. granted your marijuana user more than likely is not going to be doing these things, this type of behavior is more prone to a more heavy substance user such as herion or crack/cocaine. not only will government money be regulated against being spent on drugs, the addicted individual will be able to get the help they need, which in turn cuts down on other social issues that an addict can cause.
I do not agree with mandatory testing for all recipients, but if it appears that there is abuse of the system happening then yes they should be tested. For instance, if a family is receiving assistance and the children do not appear tp be better fed and clothed, etc. than before something is wrong and it needs to be investigated. Many times parents are using that money to buy alcohol, tobacco, and drugs instead of providing for the children which is what welfare is supposed to do. All recipients should have to sign a form when they apply agreeing to the testing. The fact that most people have to sign such an agreement and also pass a test prior to being employed, means to me that the testing is not discriminatory nor a violation of any personal rights and if welfare recipients can be excluded from testing based on the idea that it is a violation of their rights and/or is discriminatory then random drug testing by employers should be stopped for the same reasons.
Drug testing should be stopped, except in a very few situations and jobs, such as piloting an airplane or in case of a suspicious accident. It is a horrible invasion of privacy and it is often inaccurate. I tested positive for cocaine after 9 MONTHS of abstinence from coke and all other illegal drugs. The specimen was tested and retested and continued to show a positive. Only my closest friends believed me. Even though I paid $150 for a hair test which came out negative, I still got in serious trouble. I am on Social Security - it took 3 years to get on it. During those years, I was on welfare. All you self-righteous nonthinkers out there: I would have lost my welfare check and I was disabled but not yet on Social Security: what would you suggest I do, or others like me? Another thing to consider: drug addicts will not stop using to get a check. They will steal, cheat and lie, however. And if they go to prison, you taxpayers will be shelling out a lot more money, since it costs 10x what welfare recipients get to house a prisoner. So you don't like drug tests for yourself? Make a fuss - protest - refuse to take the tests! Don't EXPAND something you don't like for yourself to include more and more people. How about demanding that politicians and other rich people take drug tests? They're the ones who are ripping you off. Do you really think that most of your taxes go to welfare recipients?Welfare is a tiny part of the budget. Wake up, everyone! It's not a crime to be poor, but it should be a crime to be willfully ignorant.
I agree to do mandatory drug tests for welfare recipients. For many types of employment people are drug tested. This would set a level field for everyone. It would save money in the long run because a great deal of users would be excluded from benefits. It would show who actually is procrastinating from drug use and who is really motivated to contribute to society. To the prior posting: If medical marijuana is legal then that would be treated like a prescription drug and would be okay as long as the person has prescription in their name.
I think welfare recipients should have to submit to drug testing. Working tax payers should not have to pay in taxes for these people to sit around getting high mooching off the goverment. As far as SS/SSI people go thats a whole different subject. To those people collecting SS/SSI due to past drug abuse i feel they should not be allowed to collect any money from the goverment until they are made to take random drug tests proving they are keeping clean. They will never get off the drugs if the goverment keeps giving them the money to supply their habits, cut off their money you cut off their means for supplies. To those SS/SSI people who are older that do not use drugs, remember they were once tax payers to. They are collecting off the money they've paid in to SS all those years of working, it is not their fault something happened to them leaving the person handy capped. If these SS/SSI recipients prove through drug testing that they are clean they should be allowed to keep collecting the money that is rightfully theirs. I do not think alcohol should be included in the testing because even goverment officials drink alcoholic beverages which tells me they should not be allowed to collect SS/SSI if something happens to them or when they are old, if you cant pass the test you cant collect. Whats fair is fair.
What about those taxpayers who smoke marijuana... your saying i should pay taxes for welfare even tho i can't recieve welfare. if i were to lose my job.
so many welfare people use drugs. they are lazy its not like they couldnt get a job! work at bk . get 2 jobs . its america stop being so lazy. provide for your family, and yes if u must be on welfare dont use that money for drugs use it to provide for your family . come on people. . .alot of americans struggle but the ones that are on welfare are the ones that quit and dont want to try anymore.. its the easy way out. all welfare people should have to take random drug tests in order to get government money