Bill purposed - Should the folks on Walfare be drug tested?

[CheezeFlixz]

There is a proposal to screen welfare applicants for narcotics in California, the way I see it is that most people in many jobs must be screened for drugs if they want to get a job and keep it and continue getting their check. I see no difference in screening those that get government welfare if they want to keep getting their check. Interestingly this proposal is put forth by a teen who is disabled due to his mothers drug use while she was pregnant. The proposal has been dubbed RJ's Law.

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS01/801120335/1026/news12

[lester1/2jr]

alot of people are screaming bloody murder abuot this but I just don't see the big deal.  don't be on welfare if you don't want this kind of treatment. 

[Mr_Vindictive]

I say sure, go for it.  Then again, I think just how much it will cost to routinely drug test every person on welfare.  Seems like a huge expense, doesn't it?

[Jay the Magnificent]

why stop there....install one of those breath start thingys on cars. if people are going to use the public road ways.....

[lester1/2jr]

beggars can't be choosers

[Zapranoth]

It's an interesting idea.

Welfare from the government is not a right, so requiring screening for drug problems would be reasonable -- you always have the right not to apply for welfare, after all, and if you have a meth problem, then funneling more money into your life to keep you from hitting bottom isn't really helping you -- you should be referred for treatment (which doesn't work well, but then again nothing does).

[BTM]

Who wants to bet the ACLU will fight this? 

[RCMerchant]

Test 'em. I mean,after all,the US Military tested LSD on servicemen in the 50's...and they got paychecks from Uncle Sam...

  Seriously...testing them for drug use won't solve the problem of welfare. For those who want help-it wouldn't be a problem. For those who are milking the system...it will just cause them to turn to major crime for income...what's the answer...beats me...I hope they have a back up plan to deal with those that fail the test...because that will cause a whole NEW problem.

[lester1/2jr]

unlike brother RCmerchant I am NOT in favor of testing drugs ON them

[Mr_Vindictive]

Test 'em. I mean,after all,the US Military tested LSD on servicemen in the 50's...and they got paychecks from Uncle Sam...

Yeah, and the CIA also used the MK-ULTRA program to test LSD on their own scientists and in some cases assassinated the scientists after the testing.  Then, they denied everything until a few years back.   

Sorry, didn't mean to thread jack. 

[CheezeFlixz]

It's an interesting idea.

Welfare from the government is not a right, so requiring screening for drug problems would be reasonable -- you always have the right not to apply for welfare, after all, and if you have a meth problem, then funneling more money into your life to keep you from hitting bottom isn't really helping you -- you should be referred for treatment (which doesn't work well, but then again nothing does).

Amen ... welfare is not a right, but many in this country believe it is. I'm all for helping the elderly and infirm but not able bodied people that will not help themselves. I'll stop now before I get on a tear.

[Killer Bees]

why stop there....install one of those breath start thingys on cars. if people are going to use the public road ways.....

We don't have drug testing in jobs yet, I can't imagine the uproar if they tried it here.  But they do police background checks on you if you want to work for the govt or in the finance industry.

We have random breath tests on the roads, and they've recently introduced random drug testing on the roads as well.  There is a zero tolerance policy with this.  You lose your license on the spot and you get fined.  I think when you're driving a car, it's a great idea, but they should have zero tolerance for alcohol as well.

As for the welfare thing.  I'm not sure about this one.  It would involve a lot of expense and do they do random home visits or what?  Sounds like it would be hard to police.

[Fishasaurus]

There's a potential contradiction here -- some people are on disability for chemical dependency.  So they have to kee dropping dirty to KEEP their incomes.

[Inyarear]

You know, this proposal sounds kind of familiar...

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/87/87kdebate.phtml

Pat Schroeder: Gentlemen, please.. please, gentlemen. Let's now turn to Pete Dupont. Pete, you've been running on what you call "Damn Good Ideas", like privatizing Social Security. Um.. they didn't exactly catch on in Iowa. How exactly are the people of New Hampshire responding to your idea that teenagers should be tested for drugs before they can get a driver's license?

Pete Dupont: Well, they love it, Pat, they do. They understand that it's a damn good idea to link the privilege of driving with being drug-free. In fact, I've decided to expand the idea to Social Security. Now, I say tell our senior citizens, "You do drugs, you don't get your Social Security check." I mean, it's just that simple.

[lester1/2jr]

lol pretty much all senior citizens are on drugs.  and the ones who aren't aren't any better at driving than the ones who are zonked out on pills