Government Programs Should Not Encourage Lifelong Dependency

It's not just drug testing we need! Land of Lincoln? How about Land of Free…Free “doctor visits, dental, hospital care, emergency services, prescription drugs and more”, so the Illinois Department of Public Aid states on their website. They forgot to mention free energy drinks, frozen pizza’s, novelty ice cream bars, iced coffee drinks, chips, steaks, pop, Easter baskets and Christmas stockings because they contain candy. These are the things I see people purchasing with LINK benefits.

Perhaps if someone put limits on the SNAP program, similar to the WIC program or cut off family members over 3 or 4. Unless you have a child under the age of 19 you do not qualify. I can’t imagine why people are popping out babies left and right. Why would anyone want to go to work 40 hours a week, come home, clean house, make dinner, go to bed and start all over again when they can get knocked up, stay home and have steak and an energy drink for FREE.

Now we're being told that if we don’t carry insurance we will be penalized? Seriously, if I don’t have money for insurance, how do you expect me to pay a penalty? Am I supposed to work it off? Work it off like the people getting "free" assistance should be doing??

“Illinois, we’re broke”? No kidding, perhaps someone should have thought about handing out free money decades ago. Why are people entitled to Cash, Food stamps and medical that haven’t put into the system? Unemployment compensation is based on the amount of credits you put in, image how much money Illinois would have if it wasn’t so easy.

It would be interesting to see how many people would be fleeing to the US if they didn’t already know they would easily qualify for “our” money. I’m floored when I hear stories about people sending money “back home”, or moving “back home” when they have enough money to live there like kings. While this appears to be a FREE vacation for many people, I like many others are trying to survive because “this is my home”. My home that is being given away!

Save my home of IL 8:12PM July 10, 2012

yes drug test

steve edwards of AZ 11:36PM May 30, 2012

I believe that we should drug test the individuals that receive state benefits, however then what do we do next. Before we start the drug testing that needs to be the next step, because they are not the only person(s) that would be affected if they should fail. What if they really dont buy drugs at all, what if they were just at a party and cut loose once...i dont know just saying that we also have to think about the children that would be affected if their benefits were cut off. The children do not choose what the parents do, so are we gonna take the children out of the home, because i very seriously doubt that their parents are suddenly going to be able to afford to put food in their mouths. I agree with all the other things that are said by everyone but no one mentions the children, how they will be affected, or a solution to the problem once it arises and it will for sure

ashley wilson of WA 12:00AM January 29, 2012

In Vitter's e-mail to his constituents touting this article, he starts out by saying that we must reduce the deficit. He then goes on the embelish the merits of this drug-testing program. Just how stupid does he think we are?

1. Who pays for the blood sampling and analysis? We do!

2. Who pays for the computer program to determine who gets tested? We do.

3. Who pays for the additional bureaucrats needed to set up and manage this program? We do!

4. Who pays for the counciling that he says will be required? We do!

5. Who pays for the police needed to apprehend those who don't show up for their counciling? We do!

I can go on indefinitely with reasons why no one should claim that drug testing has anything at all to do with reducing the deficit. He is just another double-talking Washington politician.

Charles Hutson Rollins, Jr of LA 5:47PM January 13, 2012