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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Views on drug testing welfare recipients
My local board was debating this and I was really surprised about their responses. What are your thoughts for or against it?
Re: Views on drug testing welfare recipients
FOR!! also for unemployment as well. if i my taxes are paying for you, i want to make sure you are using the money for what you need and not for drugs.
i had to get drug test for my job, why shouldn't they?!
I totally think it's acceptable & should be done.
If we are all supporting them, why is it so unreasonable to expect them to prove they are using their money wisely?
This exactly!
Thank you! My local is NUTS on this issue if you ask me. One of them actually said, "and what next, drug test all government employees". Evidently, she doesn't realize they have drug testing and extensive background checks. Another said "the few that abusive the system". FEW!!! I should invite her to go grocery shopping with me. She could see every person in line swipe their "independence card" and then watch half of them climb in their Mercedes.
They also asked about legal drugs. ie. alcohol or cigarettes. I think welfare should be for bare necessities. No alcohol and no cigarettes. Hell, they shouldn't even be able to buy expensive food. That's a privilege, not a right.
Becky - I used to be a lot more liberal. I'm still a democrat but can we please use some common sense!
Ditto!
Totally THIS!!
My state (Missouri) is currently working on passing this, so here is my thought:
For two years I was a caseworker, and DH is still one. Caseworker = welfare worker (Food Stamps, TANF/cash assistance, Medicaid, Child Care Assistance). As a state employee we did not have to be drug tested to get the job, and neither of us were ever randomly drug tested, even though they may be allowed to do this.
I agree that drug testing is a good idea, HOWEVER, I completely disagree with the way that Missouri plans on implementing it.
From the last info I read, the drug testing would be up to the caseworker's discretion. I'm assuming this is because the cost of drug testing every person receiving some kind of assistance would cost the state a TON of money. After being a caseworker, TRUST ME, you do not want some of these people to use their "discretion" in anything in your life. Besides some of them being willfully hateful to all of their clients and trying their hardest to not help them, I ran across many who were recreational drug users (mostly pot) or some that drank during the lunch hour. I feel that it is not fair at all to leave a person's livelihood in the hands of someone with poor judgement themselves. It's very much the pot calling the kettle black.
If a state cannot afford to drug test every applicant, I think it needs to be purely at random. I would also support drug testing anyone who is flagged as having a felony in their past. Nationally, anyone with a drug-related felony is barred for life from receiving Food Stamps, but they can still get other benefits, so maybe those clients could be drug tested as well.
Okay, I'll step down from my soapbox now.
I agree with most of your points - I'm not sure I see lots of people on gov't assistance in mercedes though! I suppose I don't pay that close of attention to how people pay for things and then what car they hop into, and I don't personally know anyone in the system.
I agree with your no drugs or alcohol - however healthy food is often more expensive - and I would hate that kids on welfare be denied the occasional healthy (i.e. not full of preservatives) meal b/c their parents have no money.
This. Marelina, you took the words right out of my mouth
This! I also have a problem paying for health insurance for these people. Thank you Obama.
~Kimberly & Eric~ April 21, 2008 ~Tensing Pen ~ Negril, Jamaica ~ My Blog: One Sunset at a Time
This.
Agreed on the healthy food. However, what their parents are buying is soda (expensive), fruit drinks (loaded with sugar), frozen meals, frozen pizza, etc. None of it is healthy or cheap.
And I doubt you'll see a lot of food stamps in Bloom. Feel free to come grocery shopping in the city with me. The cards are BRIGHT orange. Not hard to see.
Katie - I agree with what you're saying. If they're not able to test everyone due to cost, it should be totally random. They're are so many problems with the system and it sounds like they need to do some major house cleaning of workers in MO.
Absolutely 100% agree. They need to be drug tested. As far as the costs, look at it this way, it may cost money up front to initially test them, but think of all the people that will fail and then not receive any money at all, so I think it would balance out! I think if you are on gov't assistance, then there's no reason why the gov't can't hold you to a certain standard. I don't want to pay for your food, for you to sell your food stamps to someone else and use that money to buy drugs. I see it happen all the time. And I think that's odd that you don't have to be drug tested in MO to work for the state! You certainly do here!
I am, however, all for a public option for health care. I know the bill isn't perfect, and it's pissing a lot of people off, but IMO it had to start somewhere. Since DH and I are students and I only work part time (30 hours, thanks Firm) we don't have insurance but we bust our butts daily. A lot of good things will come from the bill. Like the fact that insurance companies can't drop you if you get sick, that's pretty awesome IMO. Steps off health care soapbox.
Jenni - my office in St. Louis City had about 300 caseworkers, and maybe 5-10 I knew were the kind of people I was speaking of, but still, it's enough to make you raise an eyebrow or two.
As for the types of food people purchase on food stamps, it is sad, but a lot of it has to do with education. People don't know how to cook healthy meals! They get pamphlets on healthy food purchasing, but I'm sure most of those end up in the trash.
The WIC program is slightly better in my opinion because you can't just buy anything you want. You are only allowed certain foods based on the mother's health needs (pregnant, nursing mom, etc.) and the age of the child. A baby who is only on formula, only gets WIC checks for formula, nothing else. A nursing mom gets checks for weird stuff like peanut butter and tuna. Older kids get milk, certain juices, and cereal, but even those have to be store brand (at least in MO). WIC doesn't allow enough to cover all of your food for the month, but I like that it restricts their options.
agree. And I do know otherwise conservative people who are for at least the majority of this bill. They are the people who know people who have dealt with the problems of our current health care system - like my cousin's mother in law who was denied health care due to cysts, and now has colon cancer. She's up to 50K in bills and adding...
Yes - too bad education isn't more of the focus of welfare. I think some of us take for granted things that we know because we grew up in good households. Education and parent background is such a huge predictor of so many life outcomes, that some of us really are starting out life with one step way ahead of others. I think most people would rather be in our situation than on welfare, but they have no idea how to get there.
I'd agree with random testing, where as I think test across the board would be cost prohibitive.
However, what then? If you suggest that the ones who test positive aren't able to access any sort of $$ or food stamp what happens to the innocent children that are a byproduct of this unfortunate circumstance?
IMO, the system needs to be overhauled entirely- basic needs like food should be a given, as should basic health care (spend some time with doctors without borders or some such org and then disagree with me) but alcohol and cigarettes shouldn't be an option.
Education, reform and opportunity for those who want it should be encouraged and abuse of the system? Well, wouldn't it be nice if someone caught abusing could have their assets sold off?
This is the problem I have no answer for. It's easy to say, take them away, their parents are drug addicts. However, I don't know that foster care is a better and the amount of children would totally overwhelm the system.
Even the process alone. Just think how many LO's would fall through the cracks and be left to fend for themselves with NOTHING.
Agreed
Personally I don't think we should give them "money" at all... if they need food, lets give them food. If they need gas, lets give them gas. I know that it would totally never work that way, but still.
I would never give ten bucks to someone standing on the side of the road with an "im hungry" sign, but I would give them a sandwich.
This!
I've seen it at the pharmacy too with Medicaid!
I agree with drug testing.
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Formerly Knottie Soon2beMrs.G_09
Absolutely agree!!
Me too!