Should people on welfare have to take mandatory drug tests?

[Peter Parka]

I think you missed his point Peter. There's nothing wrong with doing what they please with their bodies but there is something wrong with using tax payers money to do it. Welfare was designed to assist folks that fell on hard times. It's supposed to be used for the necessities of life like food, clothing & shelter and wasn't intended for luxuries. If someone wants luxuries they should have to get off their ass and work for it just like any responsible citizen would.

I disagree with you there, I dont believe that people who are unable to work through no fault of their own should have to live on the bare minimum with absolutely no pleasure in their lives. If you believe that, do you also believe they should have their TVs taken away because "why should tax be used to pay their TV license?" What about making a big list of food that they can or cannot eat depending on wether it's a luxory or not? I think it's very heartless to rule that if someone is sick and has no chance of ever going back to work, they shouldn't be allowed to have any fun in their lives. Its wrong to dictate what people should or shouldn't be allowed to do with their money and as Ed has pointed out, its a bit simplistic to say that it's your taxes paying for it, someone who has worked hard all their life and then is unemployed has paid into the system to support themself when they fall on hard times.
Personally I see far more money in taxes wasted on supporting an illegal war and bailing out banks who fucked up, anyway, than helping people who need money through no fault of their own.

 

[Peter Parka]

I just wanted to highlight this because although it is true, people do get around this. My dad used to work training bus drivers and they were sent a load of people on Jobseekers from the Job Centre one day. There were a few who did try hard to get the job but others turned up drunk, some didn't even have driving liscences with them and others were just so rude becuase they "were only here to get their money".

And I hear stories like this all the time. So many people where I live go to interviews drunk and have the kind of attitude where they don't care about working, they only want money.

These are the kind of people who should be punished and I hope their behaviour was reported back to the job centre.

 

[Abcinthia]

These are the kind of people who should be punished and I hope their behaviour was reported back to the job centre.

My dad reported it becuase he really hates people who do act like that, but I know loads of places don't becuase I know so many people who just play the system and get away with it. It makes me sick becuase my family have been accused of benefit fraud and taken to court and we never did anything wrong. And I just see so many people lying and getting away with it.

 

[Peter Parka]

My dad reported it becuase he really hates people who do act like that, but I know loads of places don't becuase I know so many people who just play the system and get away with it. It makes me sick becuase my family have been accused of benefit fraud and taken to court and we never did anything wrong. And I just see so many people lying and getting away with it.

I know what you mean, I'm honest and had so much trouble getting benefits I need and are entitled to. To be able to cheat the system, you need to be very clever indeed! This is why I dont believe benefit fraud is nearly as bad as the media likes to pretend it is. It's so hard to get it, if you really need it, let alone if you dont. If you're clever enough to be able to manipulate the system like that, why bother with all that hard work to do it, just for a tiny cheque when you obviously have the brains to get a good job which pays far more for the same amount of effort?

 

[Niamh]

No, I think they should legalise all drugs, anyway.

It is a bit hypocritical to have alcohol legal and not drugs (maybe not heroin though!)

 

[edgray]

I disagree with you there, I dont believe that people who are unable to work through no fault of their own should have to live on the bare minimum with absolutely no pleasure in their lives. If you believe that, do you also believe they should have their TVs taken away because "why should tax be used to pay their TV license?" What about making a big list of food that they can or cannot eat depending on wether it's a luxory or not? I think it's very heartless to rule that if someone is sick and has no chance of ever going back to work, they shouldn't be allowed to have any fun in their lives. Its wrong to dictate what people should or shouldn't be allowed to do with their money and as Ed has pointed out, its a bit simplistic to say that it's your taxes paying for it, someone who has worked hard all their life and then is unemployed has paid into the system to support themself when they fall on hard times.
Personally I see far more money in taxes wasted on supporting an illegal war and bailing out banks who fucked up, anyway, than helping people who need money through no fault of their own.

damn right, Peter.

 

[MoonOwl]

If I'm not mistaken, here there is a difference between unemployment, disability & welfare.

I agree w/drug-testing those on welfare.

Hey, I have to take a drug test to get a job. So....... I should also add that I feel all politicians should be drug-tested. For them, weekly.

I also have a pet peeve of people using food stamps for soda & candy. But then again, the government has deemed them acceptable foods to be purchased so who am I to get crabby about it? For clarity, I have no problems w/parents using those food stamps to buy kids Holiday candy. Hey, it's the holidays and the kids should be able to have treats.

On the flip of that, I too think drugs should be legalized and taxed. But they aren't. So peeing in a cup is what happens. If I have to do it to get a job, they should have to do it to receive welfare money.

MrsCrab

 

[edgray]

Hey, I have to take a drug test to get a job. So....... I should also add that I feel all politicians should be drug-tested. For them, weekly.

Damn, I'd consider that a big infringement of personal rights.

 

[MoonOwl]

Damn, I'd consider that a big infringement of personal rights.

Ya think? For most places here it is a pre-requisite for employment. Yet our politicians who rule this land don't have to..... Indicative, no?

 

[MoonOwl]

Oh, but remember, 'they hate us for our freedoms'..... ppffttt

 

[edgray]

Ya think? For most places here it is a pre-requisite for employment. Yet our politicians who rule this land don't have to..... Indicative, no?

yeah it's pretty scandalous, especially to politicians, one rule for them, another for us... typical!

that's really crazy though. I hope it's just a pee test.

 

[edgray]

Oh, but remember, 'they hate us for our freedoms'..... ppffttt

lol! I'm not 100% sure but I'm guessing the US is the only western nation to do this?

 

[Peter Parka]

Ya think? For most places here it is a pre-requisite for employment. Yet our politicians who rule this land don't have to..... Indicative, no?

I was shocked when I heard about how you've got this in the USA, the other week. And I thought the big brother state was bad over here!:willy_nilly:

 

[edgray]

I was shocked when I heard about how you've got this in the USA, the other week. And I thought the big brother state was bad over here!:willy_nilly:

I think tactics like that would really struggle in Britain, given the high percentage of casual users in the country.

 

[MoonOwl]

yeah it's pretty scandalous, especially to politicians, one rule for them, another for us... typical!

that's really crazy though. I hope it's just a pee test.

No, not all. Some employers require a hair sample.

lol! I'm not 100% sure but I'm guessing the US is the only western nation to do this?

Really? I'm not surprised. sssshhhhh..... Don't tell anyone....

 

[MoonOwl]

I was shocked when I heard about how you've got this in the USA, the other week. And I thought the big brother state was bad over here!:willy_nilly:

Yeah well, imagine that.

 

[edgray]

No, not all. Some employers require a hair sample.

Really? I'm not surprised. sssshhhhh..... Don't tell anyone....

Seriously?!! Jesus, that's terrible, that's totally taken away the notion of innocent until proven guilty...

Yeah, we definitely don't do that over here other than for police and armed forces I guess.

 

[MoonOwl]

Seriously?!! Jesus, that's terrible, that's totally taken away the notion of innocent until proven guilty...

Yeah, we definitely don't do that over here other than for police and armed forces I guess.

Yes, seriously...... Heck, Busch Gardens is one of em for hair samples.

 

[dkwrtw]

most businesses around here require you to take a drug test before they'll hire you, I thought it was like that everywhere?

 

[Peter Parka]

most businesses around here require you to take a drug test before they'll hire you, I thought it was like that everywhere?

Most enlightened Western countries dont believe in criminalising and humiliating people without at least some proof that the've done anything wrong.