Drug testing the unemployed

[swarm]

jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/04/09/states-get-tough-on-the-unemployed-push-for-drug-testing/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058?test=latestnews

States Get Tough On The Unemployed, Push For Drug Testing


If you're out of work, you might soon have to give a urine sample to the government to collect unemployment benefits.

Back in February, in order to pass the payroll tax cut extension, Democrats in Congress made a compromise: States could drug test the recipients of those benefits, in certain circumstances.

If you're laid off for failing a drug test, or are searching for a job in an industry that commonly requires a clean urine sample, the federal law says you could be required to pass a drug test before getting any temporary unemployment relief from the state. According to the Institute for a Drug-free Workplace, 97 percent of Fortune 500 companies perform pre-employment drug tests.

GOOD. In short, all those living off the government and others tax dollars better get off facebook, get off drugs and get a job. Or stay on fb, get off drugs and keep living off others. Or don't do anything and go live in a tent in the woods with your drugs and booze if it means so much to you. Major props to the Republicans who are trying to pass this and the Democrats working with them to make it happen. See, they can work together on something.

[Vidtek]

Again...it's not YOUR money, you have NO say in how it gets used. If I am on drugs and federal aid (which I am not, I have a job.) then sucks to be you. When will conservatives realize that once the government has your money YOU CAN NOT TELL THEM HOW TO SPEND IT OR WHO TO GIVE IT TO. I think we should have drug tests for Congress, I wonder how many of them chase the dragon or powder their noses?

[Matt]

It's about time. Drug test anyone who gets public assistance (and yes go ahead and test members of Congress.) If you're not doing drugs, you have nothing to worry about. I'm sick of seeing my tax dollars pissed away by people who don't deserve them. And yes, I know many people DO deserve it, but hey idiots F things up for everyone else, that's life.

[Mr. Hyde]

Yep. Anyone who receives public assistance or holds public office should be drug tested. The more money we save by not funding jerks, the more money we have for the people who really do need assistance due to their circumstances. The fewer jerks we have in the system, the faster and better we can help the genuine.

Whether they test positive or not, I don't have faith that many public officials are of sound mind.

[LWPD]

Apr 10, 2012 16:15:17 GMT -5 Vidtek said:

I think we should have drug tests for Congress, I wonder how many of them chase the dragon or powder their noses?

I would love to see a policy of random surprise drug testing on public officials, structured with independent oversight to make the process credible. Those who benefit from receiving salaries and pensions funded by taxpayers should themselves have to fund the process annually as a condition of employment. Call it a mandatory Public Servant Tax. Test at every level (local, state, federal) including judges!

[Vidtek]

Apr 10, 2012 16:55:21 GMT -5 Matt said:

I'm sick of seeing my tax dollars pissed away by people who don't deserve them. And yes, I know many people DO deserve it, but hey idiots F things up for everyone else, that's life.

I'm sick of seeing my tax dollars go to corporations who don't deserve them. I'm sick of my tax dollars being used to bomb other countries while people starve in this one. I'm sick of my tax dollars paying the salleries of corrupt government officials. I'm sick of my tax dollars going into the pockets of any close-minded, backward thinking, Bible-thumping neo-conservative right-wing nutcase. Alas, I have no more say in where my tax dollars go than you do. Get over it. You have no more right to tell anyone how to spend their money than I have to tell you the same thing. The system works. Do some people abuse it, sure. But people abuse every situation they can. After all, corporations are people now too, right? Not like they ever did anything wrong. Not like the government has never lied to us.

[Big Bri]

Amen to this. My family was on welfare for awhile during my childhood and my mom busted her ass to get off it, which she did. I own my own business now and am grateful for all I have because I came from being poor as a kid.

I agree with drug tests for welfare recepients and testing public office holders sounds like a damn good idea too. I also think that welfare recipients should be banned from having any more children while they are on welfare. I know that would be next to impossible to enforce, but it makes a lot of sense to me. If you can't afford to take care of the kids you already have, why have any more? But it happens all the time.

[Sinclair Promotions]

It's the same here in Canada, way too many people abuse the system, but for the last number of years if you are on Welfare (at least in Ontario), you are forced to fill out a job search form listing places you have either filled out an application or dropped off a resume. Now I know that form is easy to forge, ie just fill in random businesses, but if you are caught not job searching or forging the form your benefits are immediately suspended.

I do know that Welfare here also now makes you register with temp agencies, and if they report you are always turning down jobs from them your benefits are once again suspended.

I also have two friends on long term disability up here, and while one was born legally blind and struggles every month to make ends meet, the other one is simply on disability because of his weight, which I believe is a self imposed condition and shouldn't qualify, but once again that is another story.

I agree that any and all recipients of benefits up here, be that Welfare or Disability assistance should face annual reviews of their conditions, including drug testing, and medical reports if need be to continue to qualify for their benefits.

[jrgoldman]

When will we realize that drug abuse is a health care issue and not a criminal issue? I do no drugs, but if someone makes a personal choice to do so, it should not be the governments business.

[pikemojo]

Apr 11, 2012 7:54:44 GMT -5 jrgoldman said:

When will we realize that drug abuse is a health care issue and not a criminal issue? I do no drugs, but if someone makes a personal choice to do so, it should not be the governments business.

I think most people would agree with you if those same people weren't then using government healthcare. So, by paying for peoples healthcare we make their personal decisions a government issue. Slippery slope...