As I sipped my fresh-squeezed Florida Natural this morning, my eyes flicked up and down the Facebook news feed. A smattering of undoubtedly everlasting friendships had been sealed, staged photos were posted in abundance, status updates saturated with exclamation points decorated the landscape and groups had been created and joined. The everyday pulp of Facebook. As far as Facebook groups go, most groups are pretty inane, digitalized outlets that serve no purpose whatsoever, and some are genuinely hilarious. At least, I thought Facebook groups to be completely harmless until I read that some of my Facebook “friends” had joined a group demanding mandatory drug tests for welfare recipients.
Initially, I shrugged their moronic mindlessness as general ho-hum Facebook activity, until I read some news briefs later that day. Congress is actually considering implementing such an absurd measure (which isn’t saying much, because Congress considering something usually translates into some old representative making an off-hand comment about it while he slept during some filibuster. Still, people are supporting such an asinine move, so it must be discussed).
I immediately hopped back on Facebook and began examining the information sections of the various groups in support of this movement. Largely, and to no surprise, each group was formed around some yahoo’s own misguided opinions and not founded on any firm evidence. Here’s an example from such a group:
I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes, and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to earn that pay check, I work on a rig site for a Fort McMurray construction project. At any time I am required to pass a random urine test, with which I have no problem. HOWEVER, what I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sit on their fanny, drink beer and smoke dope. Could you imagine how much money this country would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? If you agree, please pass this along, or simply delete if you don't. Hope you will pass it along though, because something has to change in this country.
Allow me to enlighten you:
First of all, how the FUCK will such a program help us save money? Do people actually believe that everyone on welfare is perpetually coked out? This is hardly the case. In a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the largest estimated percentage of substance abuse in the welfare population is 16.3 percent. This number declines sharply as age increases. Will preventing sixteen percent of the population from receiving welfare save more money than the time and labor costs of testing the full one hundred percent? Perhaps (not), but it will be a meager pittance and will NOT save the economy, which this group author contends that it may do.
Not to mention, a large portion (around half, according to the study) of these substance abusers have families that are dependant on the welfare check. By withdrawing the money from the families, we do more damage than good. If anything, we perpetuate squalor by forsaking these families into destitution.
Mainly, these sites focus on their issues with giving their tax money to drug users. Oh, and the assumption is that our tax-based government employees don’t take drugs, right? And what about alcohol abuse? Alcohol abuse is far more rampant, in forms of binge drinking and heavy use. Yet, drug tests don’t account for these predominant substance abusers, a major flaw in the proposed requirements for welfare recipients.
Most importantly, drug tests are never a proper solution from preventing someone from taking drugs. Countless peers of mine have passed on a blunt, pill or line because they had a drug test coming up. A temporary absence and eventual return to the norm. Drug testing those on welfare doesn’t assure that recipients are drug-free, merely that they can stop shooting up when the occasion calls for it, when survival beckons in the form of a government check.
-Mozart
