You Want to Drug Test Welfare Recipients?

[Dand]

Blind... you guys refuse to see. These tests are all over the place. I have yet to see a single study that shows the state saves money by doing this testing.

https://thinkprogress.org/what-7-states ... .kndm2gb2h



You think 48 people being cut from welfare saves the state more than $336,297?

The ROI just doesn't exist. So, yes, we have the right wing proposing huge spending increases to save almost no money.

48 positive is 10% positive! That site's analysis says that one reason drug testing is bad is that it increases the stigma of receiving welfare. That's a great thing though, it is part of the goal. Apparently one of ThinkProgress's goals is to destigmatize welfare which I doubt would save money.

If we want to look only at the metric of "saving money" then we should abolish it all. That is heartless though and we can agree that is too far. Beyond saving money, the goal is to improve people's lives. Giving free food to people that spend their money or food stamps on drugs is not helping them, it is keeping them useless and reliant. It gives them no dignity or incentive to work and improve their lot in life.

[K@th]

Please attend a math class, Dand.

48 is not 10% of 38,970.

[Dand]

Please attend a math class, Dand.

48 is not 10% of 38,970.

You are not giving me enough credit . I read your linked article and it said only 446 of the 38,970 applicants were tested. 48 of 446 tested were positive.

edit: I've taken many math classes

[SuburbanFarmer]

Please attend a math class, Dand.

48 is not 10% of 38,970.

But it's 10% of the feeeeeeelz you heartless Commie.

[Speaker to Animals]

Work First Programs are meant to get people off of welfare and assistance. The people who go into those programs are motivated to get out of the system. It's not the same thing at all. Apples and oranges.

[Speaker to Animals]

Also, when the states do implement drug screening, people are more likely to quit abusing drugs, or decline to go onto the program.

Almost 1,600 people applying for welfare benefits in Florida have declined to undergo drug testing, which is required by a new state law. According to state officials, less than one percent of the 7,028 welfare applicants who underwent screening tested positive for drugs since the law went into effect in July.

Since so many applicants refused to take a drug test, it is difficult to draw conclusions from these findings, according to the Associated Press. A majority of positive drug tests were for marijuana.

http://www.drugfree.org/news-service/al ... g-testing/


Think about those numbers. A progressive propaganda outfit like Think Progress might take that news to say "OMG! Less than 1% of Florida welfare applicants who were tested for drugs showed evidence of drug abuse!!!"

That's basically the gist of the nonsense Kath posted.

But consider 1600 people said fuck it, if I am going to have to quit using drugs, then I will opt out of the welfare program. That's 18% of the initial applicants dropping out to avoid getting tested positive!

If there were no drug tests, 18% of the welfare recipients would be toking it up right now on the public dime.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Also, when the states do implement drug screening, people are more likely to quit abusing drugs, or decline to go onto the program.

Almost 1,600 people applying for welfare benefits in Florida have declined to undergo drug testing, which is required by a new state law. According to state officials, less than one percent of the 7,028 welfare applicants who underwent screening tested positive for drugs since the law went into effect in July.

Since so many applicants refused to take a drug test, it is difficult to draw conclusions from these findings, according to the Associated Press. A majority of positive drug tests were for marijuana.

http://www.drugfree.org/news-service/al ... g-testing/


Think about those numbers. A progressive propaganda outfit like Think Progress might take that news to say "OMG! Less than 1% of Florida welfare applicants who were tested for drugs showed evidence of drug abuse!!!"

That's basically the gist of the nonsense Kath posted.

But consider 1600 people said fuck it, if I am going to have to quit using drugs, then I will opt out of the welfare program. That's 18% of the initial applicants dropping out to avoid getting tested positive!

If there were no drug tests, 18% of the welfare recipients would be toking it up right now on the public dime.

That would totally make sense, if you ignored the statistic about 8% of all Floridians being drug users.

[Speaker to Animals]

Irrelevant.

Random drug screening washed out 18% of the applicants who planned to abuse drugs on the public dime. That's a success.

[DrYouth]

News flash...

The debate is getting more nuanced.

This is a good sign.

Maybe there are some programs where including drug testing might make sense.
I can dance that dance.

Drug testing all welfare recipients (what the OP proposes) - as a condition of getting welfare - I'll sit that one out.

[K@th]

Again... (sigh) I have no issue testing welfare recipients, but there simply isn't any data that suggests it saves money. All current data shows the testing costs more than the savings achieved.

We shouldn't be spending $100 to save $1. That's idiotic.