Why drug testing welfare recipients is unconstitutional AND stupid
Why drug testing welfare recipients is unconstitutional
The fourth amendment is supposed to protect us all against unreasonable searches and seizures. Being poor can’t be a justification for suspending someone’s civil rights. Receiving public assistance just doesn’t do it for me in the area of reasonable suspicion.
Sound familiar? – “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Having said that I’m willing make a compromise provided three criteria are met. The first being that the issue should be put on a ballot and if the majority of registered voters agree that such a thing should take place then so be it. The second would be that every single person benefiting from a tax dollar should be drug tested. No one is to be singled out or excluded including members of Congress, the Senate, or the POTUS himself. While I’m at it how about the CEO’s and underlings of all those banks and large corporations that took a handout a while back to protect their own welfare? Don’t forget the rest of the 2.65 million non-military government employees along with all the people listed in stupid reason number 3. My last stipulation is a simple one. Any testing facility owned by or affiliated with Rick Scott or his wife is not to be utilized for testing.
UPDATE 7/23/12
States obviously have an interest in ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent wisely, and in discouraging drug use. More efficient methods should be looked into. 2% of applicants failed and another 2% simply refused to take the tests. Fear of failure and inability to pay the initial testing fee were cited as likely reasons. It turns out that while the drug test may only cost ten to purchase, it comes to a grand total on average of about 30.00 to have it read by a lab technician. The State of Florida still had to pay out an additional 30 per applicant 81,000 people that didn’t fail a drug test. Just as I stated previously. You may have saved 200,000 in benefits but you turned around and paid out 240,000 for lab work! See stupid reason number 1.
5 reasons why drug testing welfare recipients is stupid
1. Do the math. The drug testing will cost us all MORE money in the long run. If all the drug test passing recipients are reimbursed the fee for testing the taxpayers will then absorb the cost of the benefits AND the refunding of the fee! The clinics won’t be refunding ANYTHING and that makes THEM the biggest benefactors in this arrangement.
2. Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children. This one point alone makes the entire process pointless doesn’t it?
3. Where do we draw the line? Are families receiving Medicaid, State emergency relief, or Educational grants and loans next? I say we drug test EVERYBODY benefiting from taxpayer dollars. Politicians, Police, Educators on all levels, Students… I mean statistically usage rates tend to remain the same among all these groups of people. Today it’s urine tomorrow who knows.
4. I honestly don’t believe a ten dollar drug test is going to catch ANYBODY. I can’t wait to see the statistics compiled after one year of this.
5. Did you know Solantic Walk In Urgent Care Clinics offer drug testing? Did you know Rick Scott used to own Solantic? Do You know his wife owns them now?
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article1161158.ece
Student athletes, law enforcement as well as CIA, FBI and nearly all DOD, DOJ and various other departments are all required to be randomly drug screened
What exactly is your point Matty? As a former student athlete I was tested for PERFORMANCE enhancing drugs to maintain a level playing field. The CIA, FBI, DOD and DOJ … SHOULD randomly drug screen… and OFTEN. You can’t enforce the law while breaking it can you? But they don’t. Collectively Thousands upon thousands of employees and nowhere near the same number of drug tests. The supreme court has already ruled that drug testing federal employees in mass is illegal. They made exception for certain positions that may be security sensitive or require being armed and may possibly require and employee to kill someone for obvious reasons. I think you missed the whole point of the post. The testing of welfare recipients isn’t random… it’s in mass. It also presupposes drug use. Not only that but the comparisons you made are really unrelated.
If you aren’t using then you have nothing to hide. And, not for nothing, Walmart employees are subject to testing for hiring or any accidents that occur on the job. Respectfully, they are not responsible for security or saving any lives.
“Here is your cup, twist it tight, and don’t flush the toilet until you have given it back.” Drug testing is often the final hurdle that one must jump in order to receive the privilege of a new opportunity, a new occupation, and a new paycheck. But it doesn’t seem to be this way for everyone. Thousands of Americans are outraged that select states are now requiring drug testing to receive welfare benefits. Why are Americans who work hard for their money subject to drug testing, yet it is not required for those who receive free money from the government? Mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients is a constitutional measure that benefits and protects the American public, because drug testing those who receive monetary governmental assistance discourages drug use and helps to ensure that our tax dollars aren’t being spent unwisely.
What would be the consequences of drug testing welfare recipients? It has been said that drug testing welfare recipients will cost more in the long run. Consider the facts. A recent study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 9.6% of people living in households that receive government assistance used illicit drugs in the previous month (Greenblatt). This amount is significantly higher when compared with those households who didn’t receive governmental assistance. Balancing the cost of a single drug test kit and the amount of people that would be cut from the welfare program, the state of Arizona calculated that they would save 1.7 million dollars a year (Greenblatt). The fact is that drug testing welfare recipients will cut down on governmental spending.
Many have argued that drug testing welfare recipients is against the 4th amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizures. The fourth amendment does not prevent the U.S. government from drug testing employees before they are hired. Logically, it should not prevent the government from drug testing those who receive government checks. The government does not force people to receive welfare benefits; it is a social service program. In order to participate in such a program, the government can and should ensure that recipients of monetary governmental assistance maintain certain requirements. It is an organizational pattern: by agreeing to receive the benefits you agree to maintain the requirements. Drug testing welfare recipients will undoubtedly encourage those who are truly in need of welfare to “just say no,” while cutting unnecessary governmental spending.
I would have to disagree with the architec!! when you start any new job you are required by law to take a drug test because of the reasoning that insurance is at its all time high due to the economy! That being said, why should i have to be drug tested to work for MY OWN MONEY, when i can sit home smoke a joint and get paid for being high all day!! That is definitely unconstitutional! why should they be allowed to sit home get high, make babies and get paid?? that is mine, yours and everyone else who works legitimately at a job; that’s our money they are living off from!! I would rather pay for a drug test then give them free money to buy more drugs and sit home all day!!
This article is pointless and oblivious. The law that many states are trying to adopt doesn’t just target the poor individuals, but it’s requiring ANYONE receiving government assistance to be subjected to a drug test. For many jobs it is a requirment to take a urinalysis. Your arguement that this is unconstitutional is completely insane. This law is just to ensure that the assistance is not being abused and going to people who really need it. It should be a requirment. Drug screen the individuals receiving assistance, if they fail suspend their enrollment for a certain period of time, and If they clean up their act they can continue receiving their benefits as needeed.
I never reply to things but this time I feel I must….I have have done plenty of drugs and I also work and pay taxes. I’m on board with most everyone here. The government is not here to support people! I bought those drugs with my own money. I’m 24, and have been exposed to bad neighborhoods all my life. I have only met ONE person who used welfare for the benefit of their family. I have seen many people hand over their link card to drug dealers to pay for drugs, and I have had them spend their, quite often “sizeable” to say the least, tax returns, on drugs and useless things that do not benefit all the children they have, by different daddies…think what you want of me, but this is disgusting…and the supreme court is chosen by presidents, at least some of it, so their you go. If you have some socialist pushing president like we have now, then you get people like that defiling the Constitution to push their agendas, which is because decent people won’t vote for them, so they gotta do something to get the votes to advance their party. Mandatory drug testing isn’t asking more of them than an employer would…I suppose I should have told my current employer I felt humilated…..Most of them should be! They should be ashamed of themselves, but who doesn’t want a free hand out? And as for humilation? I’ll tell something to you bleeding hearts…my mother has said many times that she would have went into prostitution if it meant keeping her family housed, feed, and clothed….real parents…good parents…make sacrifices…don’t indulge in vice…and do what they must, regardless of what it takes, to provide.
the money spent for the tests would be in bulk. with the large amount of people receiving the test the company would reduce the prices dramaticaly. the total cost of one person being tested if only 50,000 are assured to be tested would only be 3 dollars and 50 cents per person meaning that in the long run it would actually be saving the american people hundreds of thousands of dollars.
…but they didn’t charge 3.50 per test. The applicants were charged 30.00. The testing facility may have gotten a discount for purchasing a massive number of tests but they didn’t pass the savings on to the public.
also the tests would not be vialating the 4th amendment because its not by force. heres an example- you get a job at mcdonalds when you have to take your random drugtest you refuse and get fired.you then try to sue mcdonalds and you fail. because you cant have it both ways if you want to work you have to be clean. so the same concept applies. you arent being forced to take it but if you dont then you simply dont recieve assistance.
McDonald’s is a private employer not the Federal Government and is not subject to the same laws. This topic has been addressed previously. We aren’t talking about random drug testing of a hand full of individuals here. Just for the sake of discussion however, I will play along. If McDonald’s had chosen to drug test only a portion of applicants seeking employment in your scenario then it would be a better example. To which I would respond yes you do have grounds for a lawsuit based on whatever method they used to choose that portion of applicants. McDonald’s avoids this by testing ALL applicants they’ve considered for employment. The Federal Government does not test all applicants. They don’t because the Supreme Court made a ruling against it, citing it as illegal based on their collective belief that it presupposed guilt. That same logic should be universal across the board. The thing I’m trying to point out here is that if someone in Florida challenges the drug testing of welfare recipients legally and the case makes its way to a Supreme Court docket, I’m fairly certain it will be considered and judged in accordance.
If you are about to ask for a handout then you should be able to provide proof that what you are asking for won’t be wasted on illegal activity. I, along with many other people who work have to concede to drug testing or we don’t get the job. That is just the way it is and wouldn’t bother crying about it citing that our civil rights were being infringed.
As far as I am concerned there are good, honest people that are poor and could use the extra help getting bye each month if drug addicts weren’t given resources that would simply be wasted.
It is people like yourself who love to enable the weak and allow them to suffer. If addicts were moved to get clean and get help because they can’t afford to eat then maybe we would all be better off. Your attitude is very typical of what cancer is eating at our once great country. It is human nature to take the path of least resistance, even though it may not be the best path. Sobriety among other virtuous elements may not be easy but they are attainable. Sometimes people need a little push to do the right thing.
I ask you, what is it that you would be getting out of enabling people to be lazy and drug addicted? The American government wants it’s citizens to be drug addicted, psychologically broken, morbidly obese, diabetic and completely ignorant because they are easier to control. It is not someones civil right to suck off of the system. It is however, tax paying citizens’ rights to oversee where some of their hard earned money goes. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Well said, Barbara.
The main point is that the Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution states that the government can not force drug test in mass. This fourth amendment right only relates to the relationship between a person and the government, not a person and a private company like Walmart.
From a practical standpoint Barbara, Who is going to pay for these tests? Who will pay for the overhead costs to run these test sites? How often will these tests take place? These costs will eat away at any money saved from withholding payment to drug users. You also stated that anyone who receives payouts from the government should have to prove they are not on drugs. So do you also suggest students on federal grants, and those who receive social security recipients, vets, disability, Medicare, etc also be tested? Why has only one population that receives aid been targeted?
In addition, what evidence do you have that withholding money from welfare recipients who use drugs will change their behavior? It seems to me that this plan does nothing to support those who need support. How about some sort of intervention instead?
Barbara, you are the one who should be ashamed. You are the true cancer destroying our nation. If you believe drug use is a major issue, instead of cutting these people off, marginalizing them even more, how about putting forth a policy that actually could help them instead?
Why don’t they take it out of what the recipient will receive? I had to pay for mine and for my fingerprinting. That happened before I could be employed and paid, – with tax dollars that I pay. I teach. I want my tax dollars well spent, drug testing and fingerprinting for welfare recipients and teachers (or anyone working with kids) is a good way to spend my money.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Barbara…Bravo!!
I see “John” likes socialism. Barbara, you are right, John is wrong. Since when does the Supreme Court always make the right decisions? Because they have chosen to interpret the Constitution in a certain way does not mean they have done so correctly.
John is of the category of “enabler”, same as the U.S. Government. The Founders did not want this enabling attitude for our country.
As an American citizen I would far rather pay for the tests than for the dependency and illegal activities of drug abusers. Though I do believe John is crazy when saying the drug tests would cost more….shoot a parent can give a drug test to their kids – it ain’t rocket science and doesn’t require a PhD.
You’re really stupid, Barbara. And I’m sure you sit in church every day, pious and smug in the certainty that YOU would never be poor and YOU would never be drug addicted. Meanwhile, Jesus embraced the poor, downtrodden, and sick and would be appalled at your lack of Christian morality.
Your attitude is very typical of what cancer is eating at our once great country. It is human nature to not think about an issue, but simply accept what you’re told without studying it.
I ask you, what is it that you would be getting out of humiliating the poor even further? It is a human right to eat and have shelter. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Everyone should be tested that the public is paying. I don’t want the police or Firefighters or anyone doing illegal drugs ….no one should that is why it is illegal!
Matty pointed out what I was going to say. Those who are employed by the goverment are subject to drug testing. My hubby gets tested at least once a month in the army. Based on your logic employment drug testing should be illegal too. And not just anyone can receive benefits for another person. Food stamps yes but I don’t believe you can do that for cash assistance. Student loans is another stupid point since that is a loan and has to be paid back. WELFARE is just that WELFARE…Not earned and not repaid. That is my dime going into someone elses pocket.
Army_eng_wife: As stated by a previous post, your husband is in the ARMY (a position that requires him to be around weapons) and the US Supreme Court has said that he can be tested. Your example of student loans is inaccurate. Student loan interest is subsidized, meaning that the government, ie, your tax dollars, pays banks a portion of the interest. So no, not all student loans are paid back.
The drug-testing is just a way to target at scapegoat and demonize people that have very little to do with the real problems with out government spending and inability to raise revenue. We are currently living in a country where the bottom 40% only control .03 (not 3%) of the nation’s wealth. I am certain that our fabricated money woes has very little to do with 10% of the welfare population gaming the system. However, if the wealthy elite don’t keep the poor distracted and turning against one another, the poor might actually wake up and see that there are bigger problems than “Union workers make more money than me” and “I have to be drug tested and so should they.”
There is a huge difference between having a job federal or private where you have a choice to keep the job or take the pay and being asked to submit for a drug test before you will be granted enough money for food to eat (we must eat, no choice). Drug testing the poor just reinforces the stereotype that the poor are irresponsible drug users. When the truth of the matter is that the percentage of drug users receiving minimum living expenses from the government is no different than the general population.
and as for proving that the government money is used for proper legal uses – of course there are already provisions for that for example, Food stamps can only be used for food .. And now actually it is an electronic
debit card and there are certain items you can’t purchase with the card like alcohol and tobacco. Medicaid can only be used for medical reimbursements etc. To underscore the point, they do not just hand out cash. It should be mentioned as well that the money given for basic needs like food is very small.
Further the majority of people receiving basic funds are single mothers with children that need help. Many are from abusive relationships, or have dead beat dads or are teens. They have fallen on hard times. To suspect these people of drug use without any probable cause is simply against what the forefathers of the constitution fought and died for.
Thanks Tom like what you wrote especially that last part.
What are they eating, cocaine, pills, or marajuana? I agree that some are honest people but if you give a drug addict money, they are not going to buy food anyways, they are going to buy drugs. That is why they look like they haven’t eaten in months. I was once a cocaine addict but not on welfare. I spent more on cocaine than food as I was not hungry and lost over a hundred pounds. Drug testing might cost the state money but would deter addicts from even applying because they know they won’t pass. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, I know many many people who sit on welfare collecting taxpayer money who sit around all day and do drugs and then when they run out of money, do out and scrap for metal to get more money for drugs. If they can you that type of work then they are able-bodied enough to go out and get a damn job like the rest of us.
Thank you.
You are a FOOL! If I have to get tested to EARN money these BUMS should be tested WEEKLY.
Not only that, their homes should be searched for signs of booze, tobacco, pay-channels, and other luxuries they can’t afford!
ALL welfare should be stopped; you don’t work, you don’t eat
People like you make me sick.
The unemployment rate isn’t where it is because of druggies and laziness. It’s because our government is not effective at governing us.
Go stuff your head back up your butt. Oh that’s right, you’re listening to FUX Noise. Same difference.
Single mothers; in other words, immoral baby factories having 1/2 dozen kids by 1/2 dozen “men”. These are noting but hookers that should loose their kids and be sterilized.
Jim Britt: that sounds pretty similar to what the Nazis planned and implemented. Shame on you. Have a read at this:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
They are preying on the weak, vulnerable, and those unable to defend themselves. And we do nothing. All of these new laws and legislations are in the books, and applicable to ANYONE. Stand back and watch as they strip “other” peoples rights away, and it will only be when it’s too late that you realise those were your rights too.
Ah, the ignorant speak. Let’s see, you can’t spell, you can’t think, you can’t reason, you’re mean, cruel, and stupid. Check, check, check. You must vote Republican and watch FUX Noise exclusively.
I believe there is a place for welfare programs, but I also believe that the current system is being abused by tens of thousands. Welfare programs most definetely need a stricter application process to insure that those recieving money are not blowing it all on drugs and are using it constructively. If someone is in such dire straights that they need help from the government to get by then they should NOT be on non prescription illegal drugs and so should not have to worry about being tested.
True, drug testing would cost more money to taxpayers, but I bet its less than the cost of tens of thousands of people abusing the welfare system. Furthermore, lazy people found a loophole for siphoning money off from the government, which is to have as many children as possible to get as much welfare money as possible, then sticking all those kids in a small room giving them barely enough to get by. This type of behavior is unacceptable and should not be reinforced, these parents should be cut off from welfare all together and have their children taken by social services.
The difference between drug testing for welfare versus medicare, student loans, etc, is that welfare money is distributed to parents on behalf of kids who may only see a small fraction of that money devoted to them. Medicare dispersment is for the individual and is physician approved, and student loans are also for the individual and are distributed based on number of registered class hours and passing grades. Welfare is maintained by proof of “searching for a job.” Something which is easily faked.
The drug testing is not fool proof, but it would make it tougher for drug abusers to obtain money. Sure they could have someone else accept money on their behalf, but that’s assuming they have friends who aren’t abusing drugs and willing to give a drug abuser government money.
I say lets not only drug test potential welfare recipients, but lets check their homes, the wellbeing of their children, and their effort in bettering their lives. Welfare programs are an investment of all tax payers in other human beings and as such, we need to protect that investment. If people accepting welfare money are not making any attempt to better their lives, then do they really deserve the help?
Finally, saying that drug testing is unconstitutional is downright idiotic. Applying for a welfare program is completely optional so therefore does not qualify as an “unreasonable search or seizure.” True these people may need welfare money to eat making it seem like there is no choice, but many hard working Americans with jobs also go through drug testing and WORK for their money to eat!!!!
I’m not sure I see the “unreasonable search and seizure”. It seems to me that the individuals may refuse the “search” by simply saying, “No”. Any officer of the law may search a person’s residence if the person gives free and voluntary consent. That is all that is happening here – free and voluntary consent. Of course, they won’t receive the benefits to which they desire, but that is a seperate issue, but I don’t see this as unconstitutional. Medicare, Student Loans, the military, etc all have certain requirements. Under the logic expressed here, it would be too costly for a credit check, or age check, or the long list of requirements a recruit has to fulfill. Even further, the logic conveyed here would consider many of the requirements to be “unconstitutional”. This all seems to be a silly arguement with a “not so clear” agenda that has ill intent. Good Luck.
John said:
>>>So do you also suggest students on federal grants, and those who receive social security recipients, vets, disability, Medicare, etc also be tested? Why has only one population that receives aid been targeted?
Well, with Social Security, Vets, Disability and Medicare, these people with paid into the system ie Social Security, Disabiliity and Medicare – it is not a hand out. I do believe a drug felony would mean a Vet would lose their entire retirement or disability benefit. Same with a student. Federal education grants are also MUCH less than the monthly welfare payments. Typically, however, the abuses in these systems are not nearly as much as welfare. Also, keep in mind – many of these people are also poor and are not part of the targeted poor group you speak of.
In addition, welfare receipients are not the beneficiaries of the benefits, but rather their children. So the “popuation” isn’t being targeted, rather the custodians of the benefits – which seems fair to me.
I would also like to consider the real costs of the drug testing. I’m not sure the costs are as large as you potray.
Why is it unconstitutional to drug test welfare recipients but not people who actually work?? I have to pass a drug test for my job as do many others. This is a complete and obvious double standard and no matter how you spin it, it is wrong NOT to test them.
Lets compare apples to apples. If it is constitutional to drug test an employee when there is a reason,(sensitive positions like being in the army, law enforcement,or working on airplanes) then it is constitutional to drug test to receive a benifit from the tax payers.
Piss test them. Plain and simple its our tax dollars that are putting food in their mouths. How hard is it to go piss in a cup. If you want FREE money for doing nothing but laying on your back with you legs in the air and then 9 mths later your doing the same thing giving birth on are tax dollars again piss in the cup. Isnt part of getting welfare looking for a job and if you have to take a drug test to get that new job why are so against taking it to get free money. So if you can say that you dont have to drug test for my tax money I want to be able what social services my tax dollars go to pay. I can tell you that it wouldnt go to support you and your lazy ass
For number 1 – So we deny those who abuse drugs welfare money means that taxpayers save money by not having to suppor them. That $10 drug test was worth saving $1,500 supporting some abuser.
Number 2 – Nope. You only have so many people you can rely on to receive benefits. Druggie Mom now designates her sister. Maybe she makes too much money. So druggie mom designates her cousin. Can’t, cause cousin is already on welfare and not abusing the system. Druggie mom will sooner or later not have anybody to rely on. And good. Save us taxpayers money.
I really feel like you don’t have any really strong defense to something so menial as a drug test for welfare recipients. We walk through metal detectors to get into schools – you aren’t using the idea of the fourth amendment correctly.
I have to agree with you Akent you are so right.
Why do you assume it is unconstitutional when you have a choice. If you want welfare then you take the test if you don’t want to do the test then no welfare. Sounds like the people have a choice as for the cost you are right it will come from someones pocket. and it’s true to have someone go and get welfare for you but there is a catch there. people are not as dumb as they seem, and I feel sorry for the children that get caught up in their parents mess.I’ll be honest here I get foodstamps only because I need help with feeding my kids I didn’t want anything else, i felt I didn’t need it so why take advantage of others for my personal gain. I am a fulltime student and work on the week end if they asked me to take a drug test I wouldn’t have a problem, why would I my family comes first and drugs are not even on the list.So why not allow it.
The problem fixes itself. Test them monthly and deduct it from their benefits. And make them volunteerat least 20hrs a week at a trash dump, soup kitchen or whatever. No more free rides. And no increased benefits for more kids
It’s not right that we the taxpayers have to pull the slack of every one on welfare because they are too lazy to get off their ass and get a real job, i.e. not “slingin” dope on the corners. The mass majority of welfare recipients as we all know are African Americans, go figure. I think the drug testing for each and every person on welfare is a great idea, and when they test positive for controlled substances they should be kicked off the welfare list so that maybe they will be forced into finding a real job.
If we have to take drug tests to get a job then why not test those who are going to be handed money? I work hard for my money and pay my taxes so the government can give handouts to those less fortunate than me, so I at least would like to believe that these people aren’t going to waste it.
How is this unconstitutional? It’s OK to drug test people who work hard for their money, but not for those who take that hard earned money? I honestly don’t think people that are wasting their time doing drugs deserve the money I work hard for. If they have time to destroy their bodies and waste their time, they have time to get up and find a job. Plain and simple.
Also, can I just say how irritating it is that they can use tax payer dollars to buy taco bell and other fast food now. This whole system needs some serious work.
Everyone on this post is an idiot and not seeing the big picture. Job drug testing, Welfare drug testing, it’s all BS. It’s a matter of liberty. Why is the government allowed to see what we put inside our bodies. McDonalds is bad for you, and may affect work performance, so why aren’t we testing for that? As long as someone is healthy and doing their job well, there is no need to force them to give their bodily fluids to prove anything. I know plently of people that smoke weed and hold jobs, good jobs too. The worst thing is that weed takes the longest to get out of your system and its the least harmful drug. Someone could do cocaine the day before a drug test and pass! This whole system is messed up and it’s time for people to get a grip on reality and do something about it. If you don’t agree then you can sit back and be slave to the govt…Shit when they tell you to shit, piss when they tell you to piss. It’s a disgrace to freedom and what this country was founded on. Thomas Jefferson smoked weed, and no one drug tested him before he wrote the Declaration of Independence…think about it.
YOU ARENT SEEING THE BIG PICTURE. MCDONALDS MAKES YOU FAT, BUT IT DOESNT ALTER YOUR MIND. LOOK UP THE TERM DRUGS. GO AHEAD, KEEP PAYING TAXES SO YOU CAN HELP A DRUG ADDICT OUT. WE WILL PUT YOU IN A ROOM WITH DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT AND YOU CAN WORK ALONG SIDE THEM, TRUST THEM WITH YOUR LIFE.
You think drug testing cost more than welfare then you sir are a complete moron. I grew up in a neighborhood that was once known for the community and great characters of the community and soon enough drugs came into town and the whole place is just a shit hole now. If people are willing to take free money then they should at least do something in return. Sorry you can’t smoke pot anymore and were not going to give you the money to buy it. Get the fuck out of here man. Grow up get off your ass and take responsibility for your actions and actually contribute to society and if you can’t do that then you shouldn’t get a penny.
Logan i think you’re the idiot. I am all for drug testing at work. I work construction and don’t want some loser high on Meth, cocaine or whatever to be using a piece of heavy equipment and killing me or anyone else. Things like thathappen way too often. Drug testing can save lives and keeps insurance premiums down. Its not a matter of liberty,cuz like it or not you do not have the right to go to work geeked up at will and endanger the lives of others. Think about that.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I BELIEVE DRUG TESTING CAN AND WILL BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO ELIMINATING MISUSE. THIS DOES NOT VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT ON THE GROUNDS THAT THESE ARE TAX PAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING PAYED TO THESE PEOPLE. I BELIEVE GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW IF THE MONEY THEY GIVE OUT IS BEING USED CORRECTLY. AND AS A TAX PAYER I DONT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO HELP FUND THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT MY DRUG ADDICT NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CAN FEED HER DRUG HABIT RATHER THAN FEED HER CHILDREN, FOR WHICH THE CHILDREN ARE THE REASON WHY THESE PEOPLE EVEN GET THESE BENEFITS IN THE FIRST PLACE. DRUG TESTING A PERSON AND THEY FAIL WILL SAVE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR AND CAN THEN BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE MORE DESERVING.
WRONG!!!. i file insurance claims in the hospital(the e.r. to be exact). 80 percent of our patient come in for non emergency reasons and 54% of them are drug seekers who are on welfare and do not work!!!This welfare for drug abusing lazy ass losers and the whole college loans are top contenders to why our country is in bad shape and many hard working clean honest people are loosing jobs and hard earned salaries. if hard working sober americans can get drug tested at work than so can lazy losers on welfare. make the welfare people pay out of pocket for the tests… if they dont…than pull them off of welfare forcing them to get those awful horrible things called jobs. btw this isnt an opion or perception. IT IS A FACT!!!!!! monkey see monkey due. the lazy welfare losers children will follow in the parents footsteps. matty u sir are probally a lazy pothead yourself thats why you think its a bad idea to drug test lazy losers!!!!!!!!!ironically this is coming from a liberal homosexual democrat too
At face value it is true that if you are not using drugs you have nothing to hide but when you look under the covers it is your money that you should be hiding away but instead will be paying in the form of taxes to fund this nonsense that benefits no one but the corporate greed. Heck at the rate of loss this is going to generate we may be far better off to just buy drugs for the drug users and just maybe they will use to many and stop being such a problem.
the only drug that stays in your system long is weed theres otyher drugs out there on this earth my nigs
If I have to take a drug test to get a job then people getting any kind of government aid should too. I unfortunately know a few people on welfare with DRUG ADDICTIONS!!!! It SICKENS me to know this is what my hard earned money is going toward!!! I agree it helps the people who really need it, but I’m done with giving SOME people free rides!!!!
Why should we pay for their drugs? We work hard to make the money NOT them! But like always as long as the politisians get their votes the won’t pass laws to stop them they’ll just keep on handing them money, like always, and drive our debt deeper and deeper into the hole.
If you interpret the fourth amendment the way you do for drug tests then searching every car crossing the U.S. Mexican border is also unconstitutional. Why would you want drug users using taxpayers dollars, the income of people who actually work for their money and don’t look for handouts, to buy illegal drugs. If you don’t think they should test welfare users because it’s unconstitutional than we cant search vehicles crossing the border.
And remember, for all intents and purposes, these urine tests are only going to catch marijuana users. It’s the only drug that can be detected in urine after 48 hours since use. Everyone with half a brain knows that MJ is less harmful than almost any drug (zero documented deaths, MD’s prescribe it).
Welfare recipients who use alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, etc… will pass the tests and get the checks.
Just another reason drug testing is a really bad idea for welfare recipients.
you people getting mad about your hard earned tax money going to drug use are rediculous what about the tax dollars politicians are wasting on wiping their asses with??
Drug testing may be unconstitutional but technically so is government assistance. On the claim that a ten dollar drug test wont catch anyone, most welfare recipients are naive and they probably believe the test will catch them, so the amount of welfare cases will go down simply because of the scare that they will not pass. I agree that everyone should be tested, but this article is discussing applicants of the welfare system, not police or politicians. And lastly (what I think is the strongest argument for supporters of required drug tests for welfare applicants) if I have to get drug tested in order to have or maintain a job, why shouldnt welfare recipients have to?? It is immoral that I get tested in order for you to receive government aid, yet you dont have to.
Exactly. It is NOT unconstitutional to require drug testing to receive welfare because welfare of any kind is NOT guaranteed by the constitution. Bottom line. You are not forced to be tested because you are not forced (or even encouraged, ever) to receive welfare at all.
i think drug testing is good so you dont have low life people doing drugs with the money the government gives them
You see thats where you are wrong.First of all on your side no one should be on welfare PERIOD. Thats why there are charities There should be no drug testing of any kind PERIOD.Both are completely unconstitutional .It’s so funny Libs destroy the constitution and they use it when it benefits them…..not referring to you btw.This is supposed to be a free country.Social Security is un constitutional and is a socialist entity in and of it’s self.There should be no FBI no CIA no private banks loaning us money when we can make our own INTeREST free.There is a price to pay for freedom and that is giving up a little security.When the government starts giving you money,they will in turn start telling you how to speak, what you can put in your own body,how many kids and cars you can have ect. That is the opposite of what the constitution stands for.So when you start wanting to implement new laws and restrictions on the citizens of this country you are taking away freedom to choose and live for your own self.As much as I would like to see welfare recipients busted for drugs while they are supposedly looking for a job, think about the government coming in to your house and telling how to dress,because that my friend unfortunately is where we are headed.An it all has to do with the citizens of the USA becoming Lazy complacent and ignorant of the great document we were given by our fore fathers blood ..The Constitution of the United States of America.We WERE the greatest country in history and the freest mankind has ever been.
This post was asinine. Obviously the 4th amendment does not apply to this situation because you are not required to take it. The only time it must be taken is if they CHOOSE to take it in order to receive benefits. By the way, if you are so vehemently behind the idea of welfare why don’t you foot the bill. Meaning, if all Americans were given the right to allocate money to welfare $0-$??? how much would go in. If a tax payer could choose not to participate in paying welfare how many would opt out. Would you be willing to take on the burden out of your own pocket? Allocate an additional percentage to welfare so we that don’t believe in it could keep our tax money in order to provide for our families? The answer is no. You feel we should all have to foot the bill for your personal agenda. It is wrong. Per the constitution welfare is wrong anyway. There were to be no taxes period. The federal govt. levied a tax to pay for the war, but it was supposed to end after the war. It never did. Tell me how it is constitutional to take 25% of my pay and use it to support a drug habit. Where does the constitution allow for this? YOU ARE WRONG! I am sorry to be so blunt but not testing is an atrocity. If you disagree, put it to a vote. See what the outcome is. Isn’t that the American way? If it was voted on and voted down I would take back what I said, but we all know it would receive overwhelming support, so it will never happen. Keep in mind the liberal agenda is pushing toward socialism. Pick up any book about communism or socialism and see how well it has worked out in precious society, then tell me that is still what you want. P.S. You truly should be ashamed of yourself for wanting to take food off the plates of working citizens and give it to people who don’t have themdrive to work. Hunger would do them some good. I bet they would get jobs then.
Wow really? The only thing stupid here is this wannabe blog. My tax dollars go to these people, I don’t want them taking MY money and using it to buy drugs. I get drug tested for doing my job, why shouldn’t they for taking MY money? Drugs are bad, if your hooked on drugs then your not going to get a job if you can just freeload off hard working people and get high.
I have a question regarding SS/disability. My daughters ex boyfriend, the father of my two grand children is on SS/disability. They were both ordered through the court system (regarding the fact that I am guardian) to undergo drug testing. My daughter is finally clean 2 years, yet as early as 4 weeks ago, he is testing positive for illegal drugs, skipping testing, you all get the picture. Also, he claims to have gotten a “couple grand” back on his taxes. He is a perfectly healthy (abit druggy) 33 year old screwing the system. How is this legal?
It looks like most people just run their mouth without doing any research. Florida became the first state to try testing and last I knew were going to do away with it. After testing, 96% of them came up negative. 2% were positive and 2% refused. They had people take it to court and they won. They figured the program cost somewhere around $178 million and they saved about $50,000. Send the bill to the taxpayer and Gov. Rick Scott and his wife laugh all the way to the bank as his wife owns the testing place(Rick owned it but was forced to sell becausse conflict of interest). There is a difference between government aand private business too. I don’t want lazy people scamming the system, but what’s even worse is a millionaire scamming us and raising our taxess and getting us to focus on the poor as the problem. The Scotts probably made more on that deal off of taxpayers than what it cost to pay all the deadbeats for 5 years. Wake up people!
Apparently none of you who are against it have ever been in a position to see the welfare checks actually being used. Well, I have. My friends have. Here in Texas, they have a welfare card, which many can actually PULL MONEY OFF OF IT.
I worked at a very busy truck stop for 9 months. This truck stop received all types of people and the only slow times are between 2-5 am. During my hours (3-10pm or 10-7am) I would check out many people who used these cards. 90% of these welfare card holders drove up in expensive vehicles that were jacked up, custom paint jobs, loud stereos. These women and men wore name brand clothes that, if they’re poor enough to need welfare, they shouldn’t be able to afford. Women with their hair done up professionally, and even some of the regulars had their hair done differently several times a week. Nails always done… These people were far from poor. These same people would bring their 2-7 kids (Yes.. 7 fu$$ing kids for one woman and we later found out she has 3 baby daddies…awe… Damn slut)… in absolutely filthy. Worn out clothes, dirty little faces, bottles full of kool-aide for infants… and these people would first go grab as much junk food as possible, then fountain drinks, and beer!! They would come up to the counter and first pull money off the card. The money bought them beer, cigarettes, rolling papers (for joints), and blunts. Then, they would use the card to purchase the food and drinks. And I won’t even go into how many times I seen one of these poor children ask their parents for one of the candies or a sip of soda and these parents tell them no… once I even heard a mother tell her son “This shit ain’t for you. You ate this morning!!”…. It was almost 4pm.
These people were black, white, Hispanic…. It’s not about race… It’s about responsibility and these people only pop out kids to get a free ride. For every 6 people I see pulling this type of shit, 1 comes in and actually uses the card for what it’s for- to take care of the family, the children, when times are tough. I love seeing that because I know my money is being used appropriately.
I’m not the only one who has seen this kind of crap pulled more often than not. I have two friends who also worked (and still work at two other gas stations. One works in the same town as where I live and use to work, the other works in Waco- in a nice neighborhood at that. They both have similar stories.
So go on, give me statistics. Feed me a bunch of bullsh!t. Non of it matters unless you’re out here and you see how these people use our tax dollars first hand. My husband is military and we have lived in Alaska and Kansas as well. I can’t say anything for Alaska, but I can tell you the same crap happens in Kansas too. I’m sick of it. For every 1 person using the system correctly, there are 6 more that are screwing us over. People can pass a piss test. Niacin apparently is a favorite of many potheads. Also, I think they should remove the whole “you can have someone else receive benefits on your behalf”. That’s bullsh!t too. I have seen deals being made in my face as two women sell welfare money to another woman for cash. Lady gives them cash and the other women use their card to purchase food for the woman. Then the two women turned around and bought cigarettes and 2 packages of grape cigarillos. Oh yea. They’re totally going to smoke them…. After they empty them out and reroll them filled with weed.
I’m not an idiot. I used to be a pothead in high school. The majority of those people coming in are high as the moon. And they’re driving around with their children.
No matter what you say, or the numbers say, I know what the hell is fact and the fact is, people will do whatever it takes to be fu$$ing lazy when they know they can work the system to their advantage. Then it leaves less for those who really need it and it causes our taxes to be raised to keep up.
Open your damn eyes. The government and people like you are blind. Get over yourselves. I personally think you should have to have home visits if you have children. RANDOM home visits- where you dont get a warning. Also, I’d love to see those people living on welfare and who have more than two children having to get a mandatory birth control shot. Apparently she is a slut and can’t keep her legs closed, so we’ll be her damn father and make her do what she can’t do on her own. Men should be sterilized after fathering more than 3-4 children by more than one woman, unless they can prove either that they are married or have been in a commited relationship that has lasted at least 6-9 months. Hey, that’s just me. I would GLADY pay for that kind of stuff. But hey, it’s probably unconstitutional… Even if it would eventually cut down on unwanted pregnancies, more children thrown into foster care… Blah blah blah.
This article is ridiculous. Suck on that for a while all you cry babies.
If I have to take a drug screen to make a living for my family AND pay for welfare checks, then recipients of welfare should have to TAKE a drug test to recieve MY money. Enough Said.
I don’t feel that it is unconstitutional. You suggest that we do the math…well if you figure how many people that are on drugs that receive public assistance then paying for those who are not on drugs and stopping the one’s fron receiving benefits taht are we would be saving money. If you figure how many of those people who are using drugs are getting per month…maybe you need to sit down and figure out the math again!
It doesn’t matter why employers drug test; the fact is that do. Welfare recipients should be drug tested. Their job is to sit and do nothing. We the taxpayers are the employer and we have a right to spend our money wisely.