Drug and Alcohol Testing should be REQUIRED

[enterpryzman]

In America, many-many employers require random drug test's. I feel that this should also be required to anyone who is getting a assistance check of any type, such as welfare. You fail the test, no more money from the state and those who pay taxes.

I am NOT against assistance programs, I am against those who elect to live on it while not being productive in any way in society. Let's inspire them.

I know this will not be a well accepted suggestion here online but, if you think about the results it could have a overwhelming result.

Just a thought,
Enterpryzman

[katherine]

Let's begin with Congress first.

[enterpryzman]

Let's begin with Congress first.

The numbers are not even close to the same, I am talking about millions of individuals. I agree they ( Congress ) should have to test also but, I am tired of assistance paying for lifetime abusers of the system. I know individual families who think that public assistance should be their way of life and it is multi-generational for them. Some are drug addicts and drunks and we simply enable their behavior, it makes me sick and I am tired of it.

If you earn your own money and you/I want to drink and do drugs, that is a choice we have. If society is providing your total support, that choice should not exist !

Enterpryzman

[Gerry]

In America, many-many employers require random drug test's. I feel that this should also be required to anyone who is getting a assistance check of any type, such as welfare. You fail the test, no more money from the state and those who pay taxes.

I am NOT against assistance programs, I am against those who elect to live on it while not being productive in any way in society. Let's inspire them.

I know this will not be a well accepted suggestion here online but, if you think about the results it could have a overwhelming result.

Just a thought,
Enterpryzman

While I agree with you in theory of this, drug addiction and alcoholism are qualifiers for disability.

There needs to be a total revamping of what and who qualifies for assistance.

It wasn't too long ago I was reading a story of a girl in Detroit who was about to give birth to her 10th child. She was 27 years old.

She had her first child at age 14. She had never worked a single day in her life on any job. Therefore, she has never paid one penny into a system that has supported her nearly her entire life.

---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------

know individual families who think that public assistance should be their way of life and it is multi-generational for them

Unfortunately, you are so correct.

I have personally seen this over and over.

And it actually seems to be getting more common.

[DomainsInc]

yes, lets increase the homeless population. it sounds like a great idea. while you're at it, you should also stop people from spending welfare money on booze, smokes, fast food and other useless crap.

[enterpryzman]

yes, lets increase the homeless population. it sounds like a great idea. while you're at it, you should also stop people from spending welfare money on booze, smokes, fast food and other useless crap.

I would be all for the booze and smokes, the overall population should not have to support those types of purchases, period. I said nothing about increase in homeless population but, that might happen as well.

Why is it our job as tax payers to support everyone else who will not even try to support themselves ? I am NOT against assistance when unplanned life events cause a need, that is not what I am saying. The govt. simply can't continue to support everyone and placement of these simple requirements would eliminate meeting criteria to enable abuse.

Are you in Canada ? I have no idea what they do and require......perhaps you can share.

Enterpryzman


On a side note, my wife has been fighting terminal Pancreatic Cancer for 5 years 7 months. She continues to work a full time job and when she is not able to go to her office, she works from home with a bucket next to her desk. We find ways to take care of ourselves and even though she qualifies for SSI, she does not apply, if you can take care of yourself, you should !

[draggar]

While I would support it these tests could give many false positives.

Medical marijuana would clearly show as positive.

Many medications are opiates (opium derivatives)

Something as simple as a poppy seed bagel could throw off a test.

Plus, there are many ways to fake the tests for people who are abusing the system.

They need to include provisions to cover these first.

[Gerry]

Take a look at the D.A.R.E. program.

Initiated in 1983, estimates place the annual expenditures spent on this program is $700 million per year.

D.A.R.E. is a monumental failure.

How much good could that $700 million annually go towards legitimate rehab programs, GED education, and jobs training.

[fab]

yes, lets increase the homeless population. it sounds like a great idea. while you're at it, you should also stop people from spending welfare money on booze, smokes, fast food and other useless crap.

Here are the rules for Food Stamps -

Eligible Food Items
Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

Foods for the household to eat, such as:
-- breads and cereals;
-- fruits and vegetables;
-- meats, fish and poultry; and
-- dairy products.
Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.


In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
Any nonfood items, such as:

-- pet foods;
-- soaps, paper products; and
-- household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.

Food that will be eaten in the store.

Hot foods.




Additional Information

“Junk Food” & Luxury Items
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) defines eligible food as any food or food product for home consumption and also includes seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by SNAP households. The Act precludes the following items from being purchased with SNAP benefits: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, hot food and any food sold for on-premises consumption. Nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, medicines and vitamins, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics, also are ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.


Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream are food items and are therefore eligible items
Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes are also food items and are therefore eligible items

Since the current definition of food is a specific part of the Act, any change to this definition would require action by a member of Congress. Several times in the history of SNAP, Congress had considered placing limits on the types of food that could be purchased with program benefits. However, they concluded that designating foods as luxury or non-nutritious would be administratively costly and burdensome. Further detailed information about the challenges of restricting the use of SNAP benefits can be found here:

Report -- Implications of Restricting the use of
Food Stamp Benefits


Energy Drinks
When considering the eligibility of energy drinks, and other branded products, the primary determinant is the type of product label chosen by the manufacturer to conform to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines:


Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label are eligible foods
Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements, and are therefore not eligible

Source: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

[DomainsInc]

Here are the rules for Food Stamps -


Source: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

I don't really know how the US welfare system works but people don't get money, they get food stamps?

[Gerry]

I don't really know how the US welfare system works but people don't get money, they get food stamps?

food stamps is collateral.

There are loan sharks that will give a person 10 cents cash for every dollar in food stamps. So then the person loaning the money has 100 dollars worth of food stamps and it only cost him 10 bucks. That 10 bucks can then buy alcohol or cigarettes or drugs that food stamps can not buy.

This was addressed by issuing a "credit card" like system. The person has a determined amount deposited electronically into their account. They can then go out and buy groceries. However, what they are doing (and what many merchants are permitting) is ILLEGALLY GETTING CASH BACK, almost like a debit card. In many municipalities, merchants don't care because it is guaranteed money as long as the person has the money in the balance on their card, which the merchant automatically knows (it tells them and the holder how much "credit" is left on the card).

Food Stamps is and has been one of the most abused and misused programs in the history of this country. It is not cash but can be traded as cash for 10 cents on the dollar (wouldn't you like to go grocery shopping with $100 in your hand and all it cost you was 10 bucks in real money) and can be abused to get cash to purchase all those items that are forbidden to purchase.

[enterpryzman]

I am talking also about money assistance and food stamps ( card ). I own some rental properties and the rent is fairly high for my area of the country. The one small house I have is about 950sq.feet and rented for 350. monthly plus all utilities. I was contacted by an agency who wanted to rent it and let a program member live in it free for 2 years to get back on their feet after going through rehab of some type. They are willing to pay me $ 700. for the same exact small house I have been renting for half of that......I have no idea how the agency gets the money to do this and I have said no.

In the past, I did rent to them and every time ( 3 ) I had to hear complaints from neighbors about loud parties and police trouble......I kicked them out and the agency let them live in another one of their rented properties, this is another example of too easy, does not matter. I will never rent to such an agency again, I would rather let a hard working person live in it for free than something like that again.

Sorry to ramble about this but, today I am pissed about the society we live in an how entitled everyone thinks they are......it is purely BS.

Enterpryzman

[fab]

Enterpryzman do you acutually think that will help, and do you think that could pass, and not be challenged in court. The best welfare system is a reverse income tax system, with as little government involvement as possible, or private charities.

[enterpryzman]

Enterpryzman do you acutually think that will help, and do you think that could pass, and not be challenged in court.

What are you talking about, nothing has to pass anything and nothing I am talking about could be challenged or won by someone else in court. If you do not advertise a rental and open it up to the public, not much to comply with.
I provide a clean place to live at a fair price, I or nobody else has to rent to any agency if not desired. On the other hand, I could let someone live in any of my properties without charging if I so desired, that is perfectly legal provided they claim the fair rent value as income on their tax return.....no problem.

I understand this is an area of great debate and that is exactly what should happen, it should be talked about openly and solutions should be found....what about the work camps in the depression or healthy welfare peyee's working on govt. buildings-roads-parks-VA hospitals-anything in exchange for the money.

This is a no-brainer, programs are sucking the financial life out of society in every way.

Enterpryzman

[katherine]

You seriously don't mean America is bankrupt because of the social programs ?
Look where and how Uncle Sam is actually blowing up your tax dollars.

[fab]

You seriously don't mean America is bankrupt because of the social programs ?

Yes!

[DomainsInc]

Yes!

I'd sooner see more spending on social programs that get people the real help they need rather than blowing up people in other countries.

[H2FC]

I don't have the exact figures or proof but I suspect over 60% of our nations wealth is being wasted with no benefit to our country or any of its citizens. It goes to the scammers and foreigners......and of course to the unnecessary wars.

[katherine]

Yeah, a lot of money is wasted in the military and the prison system too.

[Raider]

In America, many-many employers require random drug test's. I feel that this should also be required to anyone who is getting a assistance check of any type, such as welfare. You fail the test, no more money from the state and those who pay taxes.

The ACLU will be all over this one, and I wouldn't be the least surprised if the White House opposed it as well.

I completely agree with you though, they should be subject to Drug Testing,

And while were at it, Anyone caught spending Welfare money on this kind of crap, should have to pay back every penny of assistance money they ever got.


California welfare recipients withdrew $1.8 million at casino ATMs over eight months


Thousands in welfare cash tapped at California strip clubs