Florida welfare drug testing

[ams4776]

Ohh this reminds me of something my mom was telling me. She went out to eat with a friend one dag and saw this overweight lady eatting all she could next to em and could hear the convo. Meanwhile this lady was telling the person she was with that all she needed.was 12 more pounds and sbe would finally get the disability she wanted. She also was encouraging her friend to start packing it on for the free money.
How bad is that?

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I keep reading rather smug articles that celebrate "standing on your own two feet" (Most of the people who preach it I find don't follow it and often are not anywhere near approaching self-sufficiency..which is itself something of an illusion.) and they mention so and so who overcame poverty and homelessness without sucking on the teat of welfare. ..Only, if you tune into the tiny corrections the following week there is the person they interviewed quoted as, "uh, I never said I wasn't on welfare. I wouldn't have gotten by without it". My husband is from a rural family (raised in a laundry room on someone else's farm...), and his family was on welfare. Now his parents are both employed and have been for many years. It helps, just like it helped them get by, but it isn't exactly awesome money. I personally have no interest in screening people to see if they might potentially be using that money for buying cigarettes, drugs, cell phones, beanie babies or what have you. What I would like to see is a two way option emerge. Those who choose to can pay into public benefits such as welfare or universal health care. Those who don't can opt out, but can not use those services and can pull themselves up by their own bootstraps or what have you. Ah, now that I'd like. Until then, I guess I'll have to keep seeing how the distribution of wealth is these days...and figure it is because some people, you know, just really work harder than the rest of us. Yes.

I've never applied for welfare or disability, never done drugs (unless you count all the second hand, er, smoke at outdoor concerts), never felt the need to suck on a cigarette...but I also have worked with drug addicts and know that you typically aren't funding it with welfare. There are other ways to get them, and not very pleasant ones. I've met recovered drug addicts (and worked with them), who were inspiring people with a new found sense of peace. To me, such restrictions do nothing to actually improve the lives of others or determine where that money goes. It seems more like a smoke screen to make some voters feel like everything is better, and there are people who benefit from that. Such restrictions and little screening processes seem to do better at marginalizing people and increase problems such as poverty, unemployment, and ill people not getting treatment, then they seem to actually help. Nor is such screening used as a tool to direct people to rehab.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Ack, that ended up being more of a rant than anything. I guess I just feel that there are MUCH better reform options that also don't reek so highly of political motivation. Change the system so everything is given in stamps and vouchers...heck, that'd create some jobs right there. XD

 

[HLAC]

Quote:
Is ANYTHING govermental in IL run very well?? LOLOL...

(I am from IL!)

blame it on the governor!

Blame it on Chicago politicians. Chicago runs the state (right into the ground). Could you imagine the mess this country would be in if we had a Chicago politician running it??


....

 

[kimntep]

It doesn't have to be so complicated and not everyone has to feel violated. If you don't want to submit to drug testing, don't apply for welfare..apply for a job instead. Most of the normal, half-way-intelligent people who are in positions to determine whether someone should be drug tested, hopefully, will not waste more tax payers' money testing Grandma or Grandpa, the truly disabled, etc. and concentrate on the riff-raff who walk the walk and talk the talk. Non-drug-using, working, contributing members of society are generally sensible people and it is my opinion (and I speak from familial experience) that GENERALLY, most of the younger and otherwise capable people on welfare are grossly using the system and, furthermore, teaching their children to do so as well, and leaving a dangerous legacy. It is my sincere hope that the mandatory drug testing will 1) eliminate the gross financial waste, 2) get more folks to work, and 3) perhaps entice the users to get off of drugs and be proactive, productive, healthy, contributing human beings. That's a legacy worth passing down and I think it's worth a shot!

 

[PineappleMama]

Quote:
Ah, so you've met my sister?

Guy has something like TEN kids... oh yeah she's absolutely equally in it.

I'm not against aid... if DH was to lose his job I'd apply for TEMPORARY, until he/I get a job, aid... that's why it's there. That's why I don't begrudge paying into it, because if my kids are at risk of starving there's a way to get help. Totally fine. But for those who don't work, never did, never will, or who do work but get paid under the table so they aren't contributing to the system via taxes but are taking it for every dime they can, and for the users who see it as surplus drug money... well I've got a pair of steel toes and a long leg just waiting to give you a little boost...

Meh... we'll see how this round goes... well and it might spread to other states or even federal... badly and it may get slapped back twenty years.

Quote:
Exactly... and if you're really only applying for temp aid, really are out there putting in apps, then you'll be clean so you can pass any tests the employers require... my aunt even had to take one to work at the Thrift Store... but on the other hand if you're a user who's abusing drugs and the system... well yeah I can see how that'd get your knickers in a twist... being forced to choose drugs or a job... *gasp* The Horror... The Horror!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Doesn't need to be overly complicated, but the danger seems to be over simplifying it. This sounds like a "feel good" vote fishing topic, that says "well, this weeds out the riff raff and makes it all better", only, I doubt it. Things aren't as simple as grandma and grandpa being wonderful people and Harry the heroine addict causing all the ills of society. Drug use is high in areas where poverty is high and job opportunities are low. does this mean that poor people are horrible people? Or is something else going on there? The reformed drug users I know will be the first to say that their behavior on drugs was sociopathic at best. Their behavior. Plenty are now compassionate people, who, if lucky, are able to find work (if not, some start the cycle again). One person I feel especially lucky to know had a mom abandon him at twelve, but never mothered him before that. I won't mention some of the things he saw and lived through because this is a family friendly forum. He turned to drugs more because of his situation, and was able to make a fuller recovery than those who have strong genetic components to their addiction. What didn't help him recover was punishment. People reaching out to him helped. Rehab helped. In his case, spirituality helped..he's a very zen guy. Keeping people in poverty does not make the situation better for anyone. It's similar to the situation I encountered in rural schools. They had the highest rates of teen pregnancy, and the lowest rates of sexual education. Sex ed was threatening to disown or ground a kid for premarital "naughtiness". The logic is that "personal responsibility" is what is needed and that the...most didn't use the term riff raff but stronger, interestingly female specific language...are different from the good girls and boys. Well, they said that until it happened to their kid, and then it's, "oh, that's different". Punishment, labeling a group of people as being dirty and useless, did not help. Sex ed, better resources, a more unbiased and understanding outlook is what lowers rates. Similarly, I'm sure better reform can come about that doesn't try to single out a certain group to play scapegoat for what is actually a complex topic. I'm sure we can think of something that better helps society than merely saying "don't want a drug test...don't apply for welfare"...especially when people do apply for jobs, over and over and over again. In fact, isn't that a requirement of being on welfare? I could be wrong, but pretty sure it is.

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

My SIL married the first scum to ask her. She was a whore from day 1 and ran with trouble non stop. He only has kids through her, but beats them and treats them horribly. 15 years ago I told her that if she wanted help getting and staying away from him we would be there...if she went back to him to expect to be cut off from us. I havent seen nor spoken to her since. She shows up at family functions with black eyes....kids have told relatives that he beats all of them. The bed you make isnt always soft and cuddly.....but it is your bed to deal with.

He refuses to work, and openly tells family he works just enough to keep on every government program he can be on. They have been on food stamps, welfare, assisted housing etc. They are exactly why I would be for drug screening/testing.

I have no problem telling family to ruck up...so telling strangers is even easier. Their two girls will easily fall into the same pattern, knocked up by 18 and live the welfare life. Just an empty cycle.

 

[kimntep]

In response to punk-a-doodle

Agree completely; however, worthlessness often breeds worthlessness and, unfortunately, ignorance is running rampant in the U.S. I mean ignorance in the literal sense..I'm not calling people on welfare stupid. I cannot deny that the root of the problem runs so deep that there will not be a solution in my lifetime, but this is definitely a start in the right direction. It has to start somewhere. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always be where we've always been.

 

[kimntep]

Quote:
My point exactly. I'm living with it in my own family, as well. Being TAUGHT to live a good life and to be a positively contributing member of society has stopped happening. It's become easier to use others, blame others, take no responsibility AND teach your kids to do the same.