You JUST degraded people on welfare. "People on welfare tend to" Do you know every person on welfare? Have you PERSONALLY talked to everyone on Welfare. No you havent. You sure as hell havent asked me anything, and I was not only on welfare but very homeless because of my situation. Dont sit there and make judgements about a group of people you obviously have NO right making.

But I also said, "due to my personal experience with anybody I've ever known to be on welfare including my family and friends." but I bet you decided that that wasn't worth mentioning, eh? I'm speaking on my own experience and people I know and have seen and have TALKED to. And every one of them that are on welfare tend to do as I said. My personal experience, not based on everyone in the world.

You put everyone on welfare in one little box because of the scum you know. It comes through in every post you make. I am sick of people like you and the rest of the country who look down on people who are on public assistance. I hope you never have to be on it, and get the harassment and daily insults that people on welfare get when they are doing something simple like paying for groceries. Its a long way down from your high horse.

Again, you go off on this little tangent. I do not look down on them BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THEM. If you read "every post" I make, you would know that. Obviously, you don't. I despise people that do that because I have every chance to do the same and I DON'T. I tell the truth and I get $200 in food stamps a month. I could smudge some things that my employer has TOLD me they would go along with, BUT I DON'T. So you claim I put everyone in a little box and treat them all the same even though I don't know them, but look at how you treat me when you don't know me?

I look down on those who abuse the system and it pisses me off that nobody wants to even think about doing anything about it. I am for drug tests because I know you could give me one every day of my current, past and would be able to in my future life and I would pass, so I say bring it on.

And it's not only the "scum" I know. It's also the people in line at the DHS who proudly admit in line what they do - I don't know them personally. It's the people at the store who buy candy and chips with food stamps and walk outside and sell the rest of it to someone waiting outside for them - I don't know them personally. But I see this, I hear this, and I hate it. Because I am better than THAT and I expect the same of everybody else.

Again, you go off on this little tangent. I do not look down on them BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THEM. If you read "every post" I make, you would know that. Obviously, you don't. I despise people that do that because I have every chance to do the same and I DON'T. I tell the truth and I get $200 in food stamps a month. I could smudge some things that my employer has TOLD me they would go along with, BUT I DON'T. So you claim I put everyone in a little box and treat them all the same even though I don't know them, but look at how you treat me when you don't know me?

I look down on those who abuse the system and it pisses me off that nobody wants to even think about doing anything about it. I am for drug tests because I know you could give me one every day of my current, past and would be able to in my future life and I would pass, so I say bring it on.

And it's not only the "scum" I know. It's also the people in line at the DHS who proudly admit in line what they do - I don't know them personally. It's the people at the store who buy candy and chips with food stamps and walk outside and sell the rest of it to someone waiting outside for them - I don't know them personally. But I see this, I hear this, and I hate it. Because I am better than THAT and I expect the same of everybody else.

I never said it was okay to do illegal drugs. Never did I even infer it. As I recall, I DID say "I don't care how little you take it, it is a problem bbecause it is illegal." Which should be good enough sign that if you're doing something illegal, I don't care what it is - it is illegal and you should be punished properly. You asked me about people who use those drugs for medical purposes, and I responded how I did. How can you jump from that to me saying "Well, if they have a prescription for it, then they can go outside that prescription and get it for themselves and it's okay?" No. If they have a prescription, then they have a prescription. Show the prescription, show your prescription bottle/container, your ID, whatever else they require for such verifications, etc.

Testing will work for everyone. We typically do it for our pre-employment tests, how is that any different? Since you assume it won't work for everyone in welfare then how do you think it works for pre-employment purposes?

Again, on the cost thing: I do not know how much a drug test costs. But I believe I can pretty comfortably assume it would cost less than the help they are receiving. And I would imagine that there would be more than a "small number" who test positive, considering that everyone I know that is on them, besides myself and my family, sell them for drugs or do drugs on a constant basis.

You're not understanding me. If a person is taking a drug like say oxynorm for chronic pain... and meanwhile they are abusing heroin... you will not be able to detect from the test that they are abusing heroin, because they can just say "the positive result for opiates is just from my prescribed oxynorm". So testing will NOT work for such people.

If it is used for pre-employment, and they hire drug addicts and are unaware of it because the person has a prescription for another drug which could be responsible for their positive test, that is at the business's own discretion. It's not quite the same as using to to determine who will get government benefits.

Through my career I have met many many people who have been on benefits at some time or another (particularly at the moment given that unemployment is higher than ever before because of the recession) and many many of them are NOT on drugs. I think that's a very closeminded thing to say. You're not a drug addict, but what would YOU do if you lost your job tomorrow? Would you refuse government help?

I don't think that the situation you gave is uniquely related specifically to welfare. Some people do that. Do I agree with it? No. Do I want them punished? Of course, but no system is perfect. Even the law enforcement system lets some slip through. The point is, I would think they could get enough that do abuse welfare to merit this type of drug testing, to some and any degree.

It seems to me that, at first, the amount of drugs tests would skyrocket..because we'd have to test all those who are and have been on it all at once. Possibly over time, once all the abusers are weeded out, the drug testing could be phased out (because, after some time, it would be too costly). but then we could periodically start it up again.

I would be willing to admit that the experts on the subject would need to iron out the details. But I do think it would be a good thing. Also, probably best to leave it up to the states to decide on drug testing for such things.

Okay, remind me what you're referring to when you say "I think that's a very closedminded thing to say." Because I recall talking about prescriptions...I'm not sure I follow. Are you referring to a less recent post?

And, I would..at first. I never said gov't help is wrong..it does have it's place. but I think the people who receive it should be..monitored better.

I understand what you're saying.

Sadly, I can't get on welfare for reasons that have been left unexplained. I can't make my rent, at all. I've had to sell my food stamps for cash, so I can make rent and have a roof over my families head.

Meanwhile, I know several people selling there food stamps to get drug money. The drugs usually consists or lortabs or xanax's (prescription meds). I know one lady that pays $3.00 for rent...$3.00....food stamps...you go over there on any weekend and she's smoking a joint.

I don't care if a person smokes weed, snorts cocaine, injects heroin, or pops pills for their drug addiction....they don't need to be on government assistance. If they are prescribed any medications, then the doctor usually writes out a prescription or will have their medical history on file. I know in the county that I reside, weed and meth are the problems that we are having.

I was referring to considering that everyone I know that is on them, besides myself and my family, sell them for drugs or do drugs on a constant basis.

You were basically implying that you and your family are the only people on benefits that don't take drugs! And that is not only ridiculous (A LOT of people on benefits do not take drugs) but it is extremely judgemental.

I agree with what you're saying...

Check these sites out....

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/616/drug_test_bills_welfare_unemployment_south_carolina_kentucky_west_virginia

http://www.workplace.samhsa.gov/wpworkit/pdf/drug_testing_facts_and_stat_fs.pdf

It states in the link above that drug tests range anywhere from $50-$75 a piece. It can vary in price...but I know people that get $800 a month for welfare.

But the vast majority of those people will not test positive. You'd need one in ten to test positive each month just to save back the cost. And I highly doubt that existing lab facilities could cope with the numbers of tests that would need to be getting done, so you'd also need to factor in the costs of building new lab facilities, hiring more technicians to do the tests etc etc.

That's understandable and logical....I, personally, don't think that they would go to that extent as to opening new facilities and hiring more technicians. If I was going to look from that point of view...and if that was the case. Why would do all the drug test at the same time? That would be extremely difficult. Why not randomize the tests. Or watch specific people that choose to be on welfare that have run into the law due to their drug habits?

I can see where you're coming from. In the medium sized city I live in, we have 3 labs that I know of. So if they spread them out, and it wasn't an everyday task, it wouldn't be a work overload. If you see what I'm saying.

Or what about tips?? They recently came out with rewarding people that turn in others to the IRS for tax fraud. What about getting tips from people who know someone on welfare that is abusing the system or abusing drugs?

It's supposed to be *Why do all...instead of Why would do all....

Or what about tips?? They recently came out with rewarding people that turn in others to the IRS for tax fraud. What about getting tips from people who know someone on welfare that is abusing the system or abusing drugs?

Also a good idea.

Agreed, and the money they'd be saving in doing so could go to those new jobs to help stimulate the economy :P

Even if you get a family who only gets $200/month in welfare and drug test them and they test positive, that's still saving money, even if the test is $100. Because in one year, that woulds save $2500..off of just ONE only getting $200/month. Imagine if we started getting rid of those that get $500-$800??

:)

800 a month? for Cash.. food stamps? or the 2 combined?

Both...I should've specified...she get's $500 a month for rent and about $350 on food stamps...so about $850...

Oh, and cannabis is the correct term for the drug. Marijuana, weed, pot, hash, they're all variations of cannabis (that contain varying amounts of THC).

I'm replying to the "If a parent got caught with the drugs in any other situation, wouldn't the child still be removed?"

My thoughts are this.. very simple. If you are going to do drugs and then try to apply for welfare or assistance, and know that they test for it and you could lose your child.. that's just pure stupidity. Just stupidity.

I don't think that anyone who smokes weed should lose their child - no. It doesn't make them a bad parent. But I think it's quite silly that we are paying tax dollars to provide them with the means to survive, yet they are smoking dope.

Don't even get me started on people who are getting 300-400 MINIMUM a month in food stamps, who eat better than my family does - but yet they are carrying around name brand, DESIGNER purses, with professionally colored hair, fake nails and all the latest styles in clothes... =X

Yeah, I hate this idea, for most of the reasons previously stated. Even if someone IS on drugs, lets say it's someone whose not a parent (or who has someone else raising their kids day to day) and receives welfare, that doesn't mean our tax dollars are necessarily paying for their drugs. Plenty of people can get their fix for free just by hanging around with a drug-using crowd. And if someone IS a drug addict, we should be rehabilitating them, not leaving them broke and desperate and therefore wanting to consume more drugs. Quite honestly I'd rather my tax dollars pay for someones weed than some of the bullshit people buy with food stamps...I hate being in a gas station and seeing someone buy candy bars and soda and hot pockets for a bunch of bratty kids on a food stamp card. How about some healthy food, so your kids can concentrate and get a good education and have a better life than you, and so we don't have to later pay for their obesity related medical problems? There should be welfare reform in places where it's abused, but drug testing shouldn't be part of it.

I guess.

lol, okay.

how about we focus on the illegal alliens clogging up the system? people are being denied because there are so many NON ENLGISH SPEAKING people using the benefits. that is beyond bullshit! go to your own damn country!