Only Winners Are Companies Making the Drug Tests

Suggesting welfare recipients are worthy of suspicion unfairly singles the group out for disdain

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Drug testing is one of many ways to bring welfare under control. I have seen with my own eyes the fact that there is no oversight in regards to the use of the EBT card. There is more control over the use of an individuals use of an FSA card which is their own money than there is over the EBT card. Those who don't want drug testing for EBT users are simply bribing those on welfare to vote for them. Welfare in general is a crime against tax payers.

Rick of MS 2:01PM February 01, 2012

I completely disagree. That same logic can be applied to gainfully employed individuals who are subject to drug testing just to earn their wage. So you're saying that people who receive government benefits without having to provide any service, other than waking up with a beating heart, should not be subject to the same scrutiny that those who provide a service in return for monetary compensation are under. If your son was on drugs how many times would you watch him spend the money you gave him to pay rent/bills/buy groceries on drugs before you stop giving him money and get him help? People who work and have to take drug tests to stay employed don't get our feelings hurt by having to do so. We understand it's a condition of employment. We don't feel singled out for disdain. If anything, drug testing welfare recipients would not single them out for disdain... it would bring them closer to receiving the same scrutiny everybody else does... but your argument is "they might feel stereotyped and get their feelings hurt..." -Well by all means. We wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings now, would we? Don't be an enabler.

Philip Ridge of LA 12:17PM December 16, 2011

I would volunteer my time to help run the identification process of those that run the Country such as Capital Hill, Wall Street and The Federal Reserve folks as they could be a good example setter

TruckerTwotimes of VA 1:35AM December 16, 2011

Hi Joy

Just spotted your blog so I've added a link to it on a similar discussion paper I did for Sweden entitled 'Drug Testing: Trick or Treat?' You'll need to scroll down for the English version and your weblink

http://beroendeombudet.se/2011/12/08/julian-buchanan-ar-drogtester-bra-eller-daliga/#comment-95

Social problems are fast becoming business opportunities for financial gain. For me Drug Testing is a dangerous road to travel - and testing does more harm than good.

Julian Buchanan Associate Professor 4:46PM December 15, 2011

Drug testing welfare recipients perpetuates stereotypes and is offensive, as well as unconstitutional. When I was a single mother in the welfare system, drug testing was the last indignity I needed in an application process that was onerous and demeaning. I ended up homeless and on welfare due to domestic violence, which mothers on welfare experience at double the rate of all American women. However, under welfare reform, Congress gave states the option to provide family violence services to mothers in the welfare system and provided no funding for these services. Consequently, while as high as 80% of welfare mothers are domestic violence victims, less than 1% are receiving domestic violence counseling and services. Investing in these services would mitigate the mental health issues - depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder - that lead some mothers to self-medicate and use drugs. I know, because I was once one of them.

In addition to domestic violence and mental health services, I needed education and training so I could get a job that paid enough to support my family and safe and affordable childcare for my daughter while I went to school and work.

Drug testing people who receive welfare or UI is just a smoke screen to detract us from the real issues - that years of top-down, trickle down economics have left most of us - 99% of us to be exact - high and dry, even before the Great Recession and the Wall Street bail-out. Drug test the employees of the companies that caused the economic meltdown, and who my tax dollars bailed out!

Diana Spatz of CA 2:38PM December 15, 2011

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