ah now heres what i hope will be a good debate

[Professional Russian]

Do you think people on welfare should get randomly tested for drugs? Personally I do. With that money they are getting they could easily get drugs I think they get randomly tested

[Mortal Coil]

This may be the first time I have agreed with you on something related to politics and how the US is run. While I firmly believe that welfare is important, I also think that there should be a way to tell who is genuinely going through a tough time and is fighting to stay on their feet, and who's not. I also think that administering the drug tests could be a job for other people on welfare. Creating jobs, now doesn't that sound like a win-win?

[Human]

I kind of agree. Maybe it should be voluntary but benefits for people who do choose to be tested or something...

[TheBigUnit]

Sounds like racism, at least some people will think that,
Instead of being randomly tested maybe there should more of something like a social worker has to look over the people on welfare

[Texas warrior]

I think that all drugs should be legal, but you are right. Even if drugs were legal I think if the goverment is giving you money to help you survive you shouldn't have enoff money to spare for beer, pot, coke or any of that other fun stuff.

[Jupiter]

yeah. i think that if you have to get tested for a job, you should get tested on welfare, too.

[Professional Russian]

Holy shit i think this maybe an apocalypse. people on VT actually agreeing with me...holy shit

[Boss...]

I 100% agree, when people are getting tax payers' money and they are wasting it, they definitely need to be tested. But I don't think it should be random, it should be on a regular basis (to keep people honest). They also should have an application turned in or attempting to get a job, if they already don't.

Thats my $.02

[Professional Russian]

I 100% agree, when people are getting tax payers' money and they are wasting it, they definitely need to be tested. But I don't think it should be random, it should be on a regular basis (to keep people honest). They also should have an application turned in or attempting to get a job, if they already don't.

Thats my $.02

But if its regular they can o drugs all the time. and a little bit before the test comes they can stop and let their body get all of what ever they were doing out

[justinglives]

Wow! Never thought about it.
But WHAT A GR8 idea!
Can't buy alcohol w food stamps so yea......test 4 drugs too!

[Mirage]

I agree with you as well.
Where are the zombies?

[Boss...]

But if its regular they can o drugs all the time. and a little bit before the test comes they can stop and let their body get all of what ever they were doing out

Actually if they do it every month, most drugs stay can be detected in the system up to a month from last doing it, and if they are addicted to anything they will most likely not stop. So any one that does will have to stop completely or give up welfare all together.

[Stronger]

I actually agree with you as well, and at the person a few posts above how is it racist?

[nice]

I agree they should have to but like some people said there are ways you can pass a drug test if it wasn't done often enough I believe they should get them once a week that way it's more accurate.

[ArsenicCatNip]

Sounds like racism, at least some people will think that,
Instead of being randomly tested maybe there should more of something like a social worker has to look over the people on welfare

How would that be racist? All types of people are on welfare, he's not singling out anyone...
And I agree with OP. I'd like to add I don't believe they should be cut off from welfare forever if found positive for drug abuse. Instead they should sign up for rehab and afterwards could apply for welfare. Just my 2 cents

[Mortal Coil]

I actually agree with you as well, and at the person a few posts above how is it racist?

Maybe because most people who are arrested for, and suspected of, drug abuse are non-whites. And if the drug testing is done randomly then the authorities may single out POC, making it racially biased. But maybe you should ask them, that's my personal view.

[Gigablue]

I don't think it should be random. That would cost too much and would require many unnecessary tests. I think they should only test people with a history of drug use or when they have reason to suspect drug use.

[TheBigUnit]

How would that be racist? All types of people are on welfare, he's not singling out anyone...
And I agree with OP. I'd like to add I don't believe they should be cut off from welfare forever if found positive for drug abuse. Instead they should sign up for rehab and afterwards could apply for welfare. Just my 2 cents
its not racist but people will think that it is especially those on welfare because in all honesty a lot of minorities depend on welfare and just need a spark to cry out racism

I don't think it should be random. That would cost too much and would require many unnecessary tests. I think they should only test people with a history of drug use or when they have reason to suspect drug use.
i agree

[Mortal Coil]

and just need a spark to cry out racism

Wow, really?
Okay, I will admit that sometimes people say they are being discriminated against when they really aren't, but why do you think minorities have to depend on welfare in the first place? That's right, because of the racist society that made them grow up in disadvantaged backgrounds, with a poorer education, which means that they are less likely to be employed. So it's hardly fair to say that they "cry out racism." More like call out.

[TheBigUnit]

pretty much, what point are you trying to make? u just specified what i was saying, they will be calling out racism because they will feel like they are being screened on purpose b/c they are a minority

[Korashk]

There's not really a point to doing random drug testing for welfare recipients. Remember the situation in Florida? They instituted mandatory drug testing and found that virtually nobody on welfare was doing drugs. This suggests that drug testing welfare recipients in any context is really a waste of money.

[Jean Poutine]

Do you think people on welfare should get randomly tested for drugs? Personally I do. With that money they are getting they could easily get drugs I think they get randomly tested

People have other things to do with that money than buy drugs. Like eat, clothe themselves or pay their rent.

Not to mention that random drug testing for a JOB is a grave affront to the right to integrity of one's body and the right to privacy, or would be if the US Supreme Court wasn't retarded (drug testing by employers is illegal in Canada except for certain jobs like the police or the army). It is beyond insane that a Wal-Mart has the power to decide of the fate of its uneducated, unskilled labor force who face few other employment prospects over what he does in his OFF TIME. The employer has NO RIGHT to demand obedience to ANY POLICY AT ALL when an employee is not in service. The relationship is that you work and I pay you for your work as long as you don't suck and maintain some loyalty. That's it. If a dude wants to kill his paycheck on blow, that's his prerogative if productivity isn't affected during the time he is on service. Especially fucking marijuana. Getting sacked for some THC is beyond unfair.

The government seriously has no more right to butt in the lives of private citizen and ask them to forfeit their rights in return for money they very well may need to help them out of a huge jam.

Once you start at welfare, where do you go? Tests each time the government gives you something or does something for you? Why is it that people yelling "freedom" the loudest are the quickest people to support liberty-killing bullshit?

yeah. i think that if you have to get tested for a job, you should get tested on welfare, too.

Nope. You should simply not get tested for either.

[MisterSix]

I'm not really sure how your welfare works in america but I think it should be done with people that have been on it for a long time.
Its also a good way to save the GOVT money. Think of all the people they could cut off

[Professional Russian]

Its also a good way to save the GOVT money. Think of all the people they could cut off

Thats what i was thinking

[Iris]

The real problem is the attitude towards drugs like marijuana. It's harmless, who cares if it's smoked every now and then. That's like forcing people on welfare to not go bowling or to a football game with friends, both activities that often involve alcohol, a far more dangerous drug, and which is only acceptable as it's technically legal. Fucking ridiculous double standard.

[MisterSix]

Thats what i was thinking

It's not a good thing. When people are cut off, they will most likely become homeless and when you're homeless its next to imposable to get a job because you can't shave, shower or wash your clothes.

[Mortal Coil]

pretty much, what point are you trying to make? u just specified what i was saying, they will be calling out racism because they will feel like they are being screened on purpose b/c they are a minority

The way you worded it made it sound like they were being irrational. Saying that they "just need a spark to cry out racism" implies that you thought the were just looking for a chance to play the race card and complain. This is not the case. POC have a very legitimate disadvantage. In fact, they don't even need the drug testing to call the system out on its racism. Because we still live in a really racist society.

[nfs4394]

Drug testing sounds like a great idea, but it could be really expensive in the long run. Personally, I think that everyone on welfare should have to give something back to the state in the form of community service or something along those lines. Its kind of like "We helped you by giving you enough to support yourself and your family, so now we want you to give something back in return".

[Greg1994]

I actually wrote an essay on this my junior year, I absolutely agree. Why should my money go to somebody who obviously isn't making an effort? Along with the mention of marijuana, I'm not a fan, but I don't really care anymore who smokes it, it's gonna happen either way. I personally think we should just legalize it and tax the shit out of it...

[TigerBoy]

Seems like a good idea in theory, but what's to stop them spending it on other stupid things like too much booze or cigarettes, and buying cheap unhealthy crap for their kids to eat.

Perhaps welfare shouldn't be given out as money at all, but food stamps and rent tokens.

[Skyhawk]

I disagree. This promotes stereotyping people just because they are unable to get a job.

I believe that people who have been caught using illegal drugs in the past should be the ones getting randomly test for drugs while on welfare. I also count people who have failed a drug test when applying for a job in the past.

Not everyone who is on welfare does drugs. My mom was on welfare because she couldn't get a job after being fired for a disability twice, and she did not use illegal drugs.

It's offensive to stereotype people.

[Cicero]

I completely agree. I also think that if someone shows signs of extra money, that they should get less welfare. Like I hate how I've seen people on welfare with the latest iPhone its like "WTF? Are you just using welfare as a discount or something?" I feel its completely unfair for that person who is actually struggling. Now I do understand that iPhone could be a gift, so if they show a multitude of what I called 'gourmet' living, they should be released off of welfare. I've also seen people on welfare who are wearing True Religion jeans while having an iPhone 4 with a descent car. In sorts, kinda how the Internal Revenue Services work, if the IRS sees your paying less taxes than you should, yet your living "La Dolce Vita" they'll be on your case about everything. Thats how it should work with Welfare. So if they see your living a pretty descent life and a life that doesn't need welfare, then they should take you off welfare (not you personally). I hope that made sense :lol:

But I also know that some people may have purchased the good life before when they had good money, but for some reason lost that good money, thats different. I know someone who has a 3 year old BMW and a nice house who's family lost that good paying job and they're on welfare, so thats different.

[CharlieFinley]

Getting sacked for some THC is beyond unfair. How so? Using marijuana is illegal in the vast majority of the U.S. Demonstrating a reluctance or inability to obey the law is certainly a disqualifying characteristic for most, if not all, legitimate jobs.

The government seriously has no more right to butt in the lives of private citizen and ask them to forfeit their rights in return for money they very well may need to help them out of a huge jam. I disagree completely. The government provides welfare for purposes that do not include recreational illegal drug use. If there were an epidemic of drug abuse among welfare recipients, I would therefore support mandatory drug testing to receive welfare. As it is, it would just be stupid.