Random Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients…
Posted by SHEMA Gurls on
March 26, 2009
Comcast.net News Reports…
On Wednesday, the Kansas House of Representatives approved a measure mandating drug testing for the 14,000 or so people getting cash assistance from the state, which now goes before the state senate. In February, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require drug testing as a condition of receiving TANF benefits, and similar bills have been introduced in Missouri and Hawaii. A Florida senator has proposed a bill linking unemployment compensation to drug testing, and a member of Minnesota’s House of Representatives has a bill requiring drug tests of people who get public assistance under a state program there.
Lawmakers in at least eight states want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing.
The effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse.
Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents’ health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don’t get something for nothing.
In December, more than 31.7 million Americans were receiving food stamp benefits, compared with 27.5 million the year before.
Now we ask you,
~ How do you personally feel about random drug testing on welfar recipiants?
~ Is this a good idea? will this help the economy?
~ What do you think should really be done?
This topic on the next S-H-E-M-A Gurls on Blog Talk Radio. Add your view. Your comments matter.
~ Your S-H-E-M-A Team ~
5 Responses to “Random Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients…”
Wow touchy subject, I hate to always think things come down to race but that has to be the main factor I mean all of a sudden after I don’t know how many years of there being welfare available was this ever a subject of discussion, seems to me (and I don’t know the stats) that blacks are the leading recepients of welfare and it’s just another way to monitor us and control what we do. I’m pretty sure there are people who abuse this money but why now is it a problem, have they done a probe on where welfare money is and what particular race it’s being distributed to maybe more so thatn others? Those are things to think about. What they need to do is offer more training programs for people to go to work, it’s not that easy to transition and it seems they are more willing to take away and complicate than to really find a workable solution. Good topic Guys.
By Katrina aka Kitty on Mar 27, 2009
I personally think it should be done because the truth is there are quite a few people that are getting high with the money, and when I say quite I mean quite a tremendous amount of people. Why should anyone feel like “damn their gonna start drug testing us” if they are spending the money properly. I know no one wants other people keeping tabs on what they do, but you have to realize where that money is coming from. For years people have been getting away with this and that is why things have come to this. Honestly when something like this is left unattended, there is always someone there that say’s hmmmm..” I wonder if the welfare recipients are spending the money in a respectful manner”? This is a step towards rehabilitation for those in need of it, well that’s the way I see it.
By Teesah on Apr 2, 2009
Thats good !! Great for them, Yes do random drug testing, Because so many people trade food stamps for drugs. The care they get should be used to help feed the family not get high on. Thats taking our hard earned money and using it to drugs. So YES to Random testing !!
By donald haley on Apr 3, 2009
Now we all know that after so so many years of this never being a problem, NOW it is of such major concern since so many people are experiencing hard times and the country is in a major recession…. “It’s unfair for hard-working Americans who are already hurting to contribute to some n****a’s drug habit.” It’s all BS & of course it’s another way to hurt black people; and in my opinion, it’s a way to further distress & stunt the growth of blacks. The government knows (has known) for years that people misuse the funds they receive in government assistance. This isn’t anything “enlightening” to them! The point is that while people do misuse the money they receive, that same money goes towards feeding the children that also reside in that household. That money, though mismanaged, is the difference between a family having heat & utilities thru the winter or kids “roughing” it night after night with no heat, hot water or electricity that have become the bare necessities of our society. These should not be “luxuries” but the basic needs met for every family w/children. And most welfare recipients are single black women w/children. How is a child to grow & thrive in an environment where he’s cold, hungry and miserable night after night? Yeah, misuse of taxpayer money is an evil, but it’s an even greater evil not to issue out these funds to the families with children who need them! (AND WE WON’T EVEN TOUCH ON THE GOVERNMENT’S MISUSE OF TAXPAYERS $$$$$!!! HYPOCRITICAL BASTARDS!!!)
By Tasha on Apr 3, 2009
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE COMES WITH A PRICE ALWAYS HAS
For those with some age on them , remember when getting assistance was a social stigma!!
No one publicly announced that the government had to assistance i.e food stamps.
Now, it aint no big thing
Too many times we mixed rights with priviledges.
Assistance is not a right.
It has and will always come with conditions.
If one does not like the conditions, do not accept the priviledge.
Do for self.
Until that time, you do what you must do.
By rickey johnson on Apr 3, 2009