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Georgia to require drug tests for welfare benefits

4:48 pm - 04/16/2012
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that would require thousands of people applying for welfare to pass a drug test before they could receive benefits.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law over the opposition of Democrats.

Backers say it will ensure that welfare benefits are used for their intended purpose and not to subsidize drug use and criminal activity. Democrats said the measure places an unfair burden on the poor.

Gerry Weber of the Southern Poverty Law Center said the organization is prepared to file a lawsuit over the issue, but not until it is put into practice. It takes effect July 1.

A similar law in Florida took effect last July but was blocked by a federal judge in October.

At least two dozen states have proposed measures this year that would require drug tests for benefits.

source
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shadwrayvn 16th-Apr-2012 11:13 pm (UTC)
I know I'm gonna get flamed but I agree with the drug testing. Most jobs I have worked drug tested employees regularly so I don't get what the big deal is.
the_gabih 16th-Apr-2012 11:15 pm (UTC)
The fact that you're spending a huge amount of government money in order to pander to people who want to save it, when only a tiny proportion of welfare recipients are actually going to lose their benefits (which won't nearly make up for the money spent on finding out who they are), maybe?
spiffynamehere 16th-Apr-2012 11:25 pm (UTC)
+eighty billion
the_gabih 16th-Apr-2012 11:40 pm (UTC)
Well yeah, but I doubt people proposing these sorts of laws are likely to be swayed by the humanitarian argument.
tabaqui 16th-Apr-2012 11:50 pm (UTC)
This, this, this.
alizara 17th-Apr-2012 01:36 am (UTC)
Fucking this. SO much.
violetrose 16th-Apr-2012 11:40 pm (UTC)
I know I'm gonna get flamed

Because you (and the people agreeing with you) deserve it.

What about prescription drugs or alcohol use? Should people applying for welfare be tested for those, too? What about if the person becomes addicted after they've gotten the welfare? What if they want to get treatment, and being denied welfare will send them further into a downward spiral?

Not to mention that having a drug, illegal or legal, does not make one an addict. And how about the fact that it is essentially a fucking waste of money because the vast majority of people applying for welfare will have negative tests?

Edited at 2012-04-16 11:44 pm (UTC)
myrrhmade 16th-Apr-2012 11:52 pm (UTC)
Drug testing at a job is an altogether different subject than drug testing to be able to get aid? Or what if a kid is unfortunate enough to have a parent/guardian who is using? I guess they don't get food or heat, etc? Really?
vexed_artist 17th-Apr-2012 12:23 am (UTC)
Nah, if there's a kid involved, they just get sucked into the black hole that is "child protective services" and shuttled from foster home to foster home, more than likely being doped up on more prescription meds than their parents could have ever procured because they get diagnosed on the fly with everything from ADHD to schizophrenia...

No sir, I haven't heard and/or experience almost every CPS-related horror story in the book...
myrrhmade 17th-Apr-2012 12:56 am (UTC)
Oh wow, now I want to throw up. (What you say is 100% true. Having taught in public elementary schools for 14+ years, Iagree with you. )
Fuck.

I'm trying to be respectful in this post, but I just...
lux_roark 17th-Apr-2012 12:59 am (UTC)
I was watching a special on Dateline NBC about the over-medication of children who are in the system. One girl was on more medication than I am and I'm diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder depressive type! I couldn't believe it when one girl said she took 12 different prescriptions a day for her problem. And then when they get adopted they're just fine when they get taken off of the medication.
hashishinahooka 17th-Apr-2012 03:57 am (UTC)
It makes sense. I feel like there's this need to pathologize children in the system.
ten_of_swords 17th-Apr-2012 03:14 pm (UTC)
Not necessarily. I was never removed from my household, nor were several of my friends who also had addicts for parents. And if we didn't get welfare, well, we would have been fucked.
rex_dart 17th-Apr-2012 06:50 am (UTC)
the big deal is that it's completely goddamn disgusting to say that people don't deserve the basic fucking necessities of living if they're drug addicts

hope that fucking helps
lickety_split 17th-Apr-2012 08:05 am (UTC)
I know I'm gonna get flamed but

You either need to stand by your hatred or reevaluate why you continue to hold beliefs that are so fucked up you included a classic Bigotry Trigger Warning for the people about to read it.

I DONT MEAN TO SOUND LIKE A BIGOT BUT (insert insanely bigoted opinion here) AND THATS JUST HOW I FEEL OK
illusivevenstar 18th-Apr-2012 04:00 pm (UTC)
lmao, I bet you got the courage to say this because of the above poster's comment.

Didn't work well for her, ain't going to work well for you.

It's a waste of money. They tried this in Florida, IT DID NOT WORK.

And from human standpoint, it's fucking disgusting. Just because one is an addict, does not mean they don't deserve to eat.

ETA: and if you're working on the floor in healthcare, kindly just gtfo. you have no business being there if you're this judgmental.

Edited at 2012-04-18 04:03 pm (UTC)
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