Should all welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
Wisconsin Governor and potential 2016 Presidential candidate Scott Walker recently proposed drug testing everyone in Wisconsin who applies for state benefits including unemployment checks and food stamps. The applicants would be tested on a “suspicionless” basis, meaning all applicants would be tested – not just those with criminal backgrounds. Opponents of the proposal include civil libertarians and advocates of the poor who believe the government does not have the right to test people for drugs based on their economic status. Proponents argue that drug use often leads to economic plight and testing applicants for drugs will improve their livelihood by serving as a deterrent for narcotic abuse.
@4LNXRJ53yrs3Y
No. Test the legislators, congress critters, and others advocating this. Welfare recipients don't get enough money for a coke habit, unlike congress.
@4NLQP443yrs3Y
Too expensive. Legalize drugs and put the money towards education kids on the dangers instead of locking people up. Look at cigarettes for example.
@4NJD4D63yrs3Y
Only if members of Congress are also tested, especially for IQ
@4NF9ZQ53yrs3Y
No. what does being on welfare have anything to do with being on drugs. oh im sorry you got a addiction problem, you can't get a job because you have a criminal history and you can't be on welfare because we don't allow it. have fun dying.
@4MV46D73yrs3Y
Random testing would be a deterrent and a more workable solution. Largely testing has shown a very low amount of drug users among welfare recipients.
@4MSM4XB3yrs3Y
First time offenders put on probation. Second chance you lose your children and benefits.
@4MRQM7S3yrs3Y
No, not if they have kids, the kids need to eat, maybe have more WIC programs, so the kids have food, but there is not as much fraud. Create more security so the food benefits can not be sold or traded. If the food is delivered straight to the house, is best scenario for the kids.
@4LN6K2T3yrs3Y
Yes, but ensure their children can still receive benefits
@4LN5YY33yrs3Y
I have experienced, personally, the people who abuse these benefits. I've worked at a convenience store in a very small town, watching people waste $40 on snack foods with an EBT/SNAP card. The $40 they spend there could buy them $70 or more in groceries, instead of the hours worth of junk-food they purchased when they enter glassy-eyed, slurring their speech, or scratching/tremoring so hard they have trouble swiping a card and entering their PIN on a keypad. These people are taking away VITAL resources from their families that NEED them, to fuel or sustain their own habits. Should… Read more
@4LMM6DW3yrs3Y
Drug use happens because the user is most likely using to escape some sort of hell, be it economic, or psychological. If they are on welfare, they should be receiving counseling anyway and through this, their drug use will be uncovered if it isn't obvious.
I feel a complete physical would be necessary. If drug use is discovered, counseling will have some issues to deal with. It often is psychological.
In Portugal, drugs are legal. This has made addiction rate drop drmatically, and it eliminated the lure of big profits to be made by dealing an illegal substance. A lot of users depend on sales so that they can afford to use... eliminate the profit, give th career counseling and job training... and like Portugal, make all drugs legal.
@4XR3YWH3yrs3Y
Yes, test anyone receiving money from the government including employees and politicians with exceptions for medically prescribed and legitimately followed prescriptions. Information on treatment could be provided for those who are repeat offenders receiving benefits.
@4NYSY743yrs3Y
Should end all welfare but only for old people from 65 and up
@4NJVR9K3yrs3Y
No, because the sins of the mother would punish a lot of children out there.
@4LP6B2N3yrs3Y
Yes, test every adult in the recipients home. Terminate benefits immediately, offer treatment. Treatment should include how to provide for themselves since assistance will no longer be an option.
@4LNRBV73yrs3Y
It's a waste of time and money. However in general the welfare system should be dismantled or eliminated... Or redesigned.... Limit of one year and anyone receiving aid needs to do volunteer work....
@4LM8BRR3yrs3Y
yes and this should include cigarettes.
@4LKT9463yrs3Y
No, it's unconstitutional, a violation of the 4th Amendment.
@4LKLRYC3yrs3Y
YES. If you lack the means of survival and you are asking me to support your failure to thrive, then I have the right to ask you why you are not able to thrive. I have no right to ask any individual to take a drug test, unless they are asking me for money. I am not demanding a drug test. I am simply stating that I will not entertain supporting your inadequacy until such time that you offer me a full understanding of why you are incompetent to self exist.
@4LNBX773yrs3Y
Yes but don't take away food stamps
@4NH2FG23yrs3Y
@4MR35LK3yrs3Y
Should social security recipients be tested for drugs?
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@278D45S3yrs3Y
No. It's been tried in two states and has proven to be a waste of time, effort, and, especially, money.
@2762MQQ3yrs3Y
As soon as executives and congress is tested, then folks on the lower rungs should as well.