| Is it right for the government to expect welfare | | | | with drugs. |
| recipients to submit to drug tests? | | | | The intention of the law needs to be considered. |
| There is a recent push to require people who are | | | | If anyone thinks we're going to catch these drug |
| collecting state benefits to submit to random drug | | | | users and deny them federal money and |
| tests. CNN has an article that details a West | | | | therefore save money, they're kidding |
| Virginian legislator's push for such a law. Such | | | | themselves. At least in the short term, this is |
| laws are being discussed in ten other states as | | | | not going to save money. Therefore states that |
| well. | | | | are scrambling to pass these laws while the |
| Of course the issue is controversial and the ACLU | | | | economy is bad are not going to save any |
| has jumped on it to defend the rights of drug | | | | money. Any sort of drug testing program is |
| users or something like that. There is one valid | | | | going to be expensive to implement and |
| argument against it at least. Even though it is | | | | maintain. Beyond the cost of the test itself, |
| government subsidized, unemployment benefits | | | | there is the question of what to do when |
| are insurance, not welfare. Each week money is | | | | someone is caught. Do we send them to jail? |
| taken off of your paycheck to go into this | | | | Is such a test result even permissible in the |
| program. If you're an independent contractor | | | | courtroom? |
| who can't find work, you can't just go collect | | | | The goal of random drug testing would have to |
| unemployment because you didn't pay into it. | | | | be to get a user off of drugs. Merely |
| Agreeing to take someone's money but refusing | | | | threatening to take away welfare benefits isn't |
| to pay it back to them when they need it is a | | | | going to work because a person's freedom is |
| good way to end up in a lawsuit and the ACLU | | | | already in jeopardy as drug use is against the |
| would be likely to win. | | | | law. Drug rehab could be required for a person |
| But what if we focus solely on people who are | | | | to regain or maintain welfare eligibility. This would |
| collecting government welfare? They paid in | | | | at least be a start but even drug rehab has a high |
| nothing to be eligible. We are not talking about | | | | rate of failure as many people go back to drugs. |
| millions of people who legitimately need help from | | | | In the end though, even if 25% of people who |
| the government because of some hard times. | | | | enter the program get off of drugs for good, this |
| This is talking about a small percentage of people | | | | is a great success. These people would be able |
| who are not only breaking the law but are taking | | | | to get their life turned around any many would be |
| advantage of a system that is meant to help the | | | | able to get off the welfare system. Being on |
| less fortunate and ultimately giving all recipients a | | | | welfare doesn't imply that a person is on drugs |
| bad reputation. We're all aware that some | | | | but being on drugs definitely increases the chance |
| people have children for the sole purpose of | | | | for being on welfare. Getting users out of the |
| collecting a bigger welfare check. Most people do | | | | system would be a great savings down the |
| not do this but anybody who has a couple of kids | | | | road. Welfare costs would decrease as well as |
| and collects welfare is accused by some people of | | | | health care costs for treatment of all kinds of |
| doing this. | | | | problems that drugs can cause. |
| Now, does this single out a certain portion of the | | | | I believe that this program can work but that it is |
| population? Yes. Is it unfair to expect people | | | | not a quick fix to save some money during a |
| to obey the law? No. This is no more unfairly | | | | downturn in the economy. If it is implemented, it |
| singling people out than a cop who only pulls over | | | | must be with the intention of helping people get |
| those who are speeding. I don't believe that it is | | | | off of drugs, not punish them for being on |
| being stereotypical to suspect that people on | | | | drugs. I have no interest in my tax dollars going |
| welfare are more likely to use drugs. Frankly I | | | | to a welfare recipient who either got that way |
| doubt that drug use among welfare recipients is | | | | because of drugs and/or will spend the money on |
| any greater than any other portion of the | | | | drugs. But simply taking the money away from |
| population. If drug use was just a low class thing | | | | them is not going to solve the real problem. |
| millionaire athletes and actors wouldn't get caught | | | | |