Food for Thought One

[NateLove-N1]

Gonna post one of these per week.

If we have to take a drug test to get a job, shouldn't people on welfare have to?

[jorbaud]

Interesting thought.

I do not want to make stereotypes but I think they would sue the government and say they have no right to do that.

However, since it is taxpayer's money it would be nice to only give to respectable people who do not do anything illegal.

[Rota]

We don't have to take drug tests for work. Most companies have drug-free policies, and test. But, it's not a federally mandated policy that EVERY company must enforce. If drug testing for employment was government mandated, then you might have an argument about mandating a test for anyone receiving government funding.

But, drug testing policies are created by the private companies. A lot of mom and pop companies have no drug testing. Truly "small business" companies rarely test because of the cost. Obviously, paraphernalia shops don't test their employees.

No matter where you work, you cannot take drugs, because it's illegal. But, enforcing the anti-drug laws are not the responsibility of companies. They are not obligated to test.

[Fallbreeze]

Hmm...that would be a really tough call for a taxpayer. Normally, the companies that do the drug testing either make you pay for them, or pay for them out of their own funds. Imagine the squawking over who would pay for all of those tests for the welfare people. Would you happily have your taxes raised to pay for them?

[jorbaud]

Hmm...that would be a really tough call for a taxpayer. Normally, the companies that do the drug testing either make you pay for them, or pay for them out of their own funds. Imagine the squawking over who would pay for all of those tests for the welfare people. Would you happily have your taxes raised to pay for them?

You wouldn't need to raise taxes. All of the people on welfare that test positive are kicked out, and they use those funds to test more people.

[Fallbreeze]

You wouldn't need to raise taxes. All of the people on welfare that test positive are kicked out, and they use those funds to test more people.

Only in a perfect world, where the inflow of people who are in need of welfare was low enough, would that work. Then again, I might be wrong. Economics was never a strong suit of mine. I'm not seeing it work that easily, though.

[Boleslav]

Gonna post one of these per week.

If we have to take a drug test to get a job, shouldn't people on welfare have to?

No they shouldn't. A civilized society is one that takes care of its weakest people.

[Rota]

No they shouldn't. A civilized society is one that takes care of its weakest people.

Well said.

They are called "social justice" programs for a reason. Not everyone can pick themselves up by their bootstraps. There are plenty victims of circumstance in the world.

[Lisa0315]

I am very conflicted on this subject.

On one hand, I like the idea of welfare recipients receiving drug tests and would hope that it would eliminate those who are abusing the system. On the other hand, I know there are ways to beat a drug test so I am not sure the benefits outweigh the costs.

And it would cost...

Plus many drug addicts are addicts because there is an underlying condition in which they are self-medicating. Many bipolars smoke weed for example because it calms them during a spike.

I think there are better ways to get people to stop abusing the system, like time limits and annual interviews. It is just too easy to get benefits in my opinion. There should be more to it than showing income.

Honestly, I think this country should be run like a business, with the tax payer as the stock holder and the government working to maximize the investment. That profit should be used to better the lives of everyone. We could sure take better care of our own if we stopped trying to take care of everyone else in the world.

BTW, I love the idea of a serious conversation here. I hope peeps are mature enough to do it without fighting. Been on many forums both secular and religious, and oh boy can it get hot.

Lisa

[NateLove-N1]

Why should we enable their addictions?