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More Than $1M On Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients

Newell Steamer

Newell Steamer

Diamond Member
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/02/26/3624447/tanf-drug-testing-states/

Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah — are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to ferret out very few drug users. The statistics show that applicants actually test positive at a lower rate than the drug use of the general population. The national drug use rate is 9.4 percent. In these states, however, the rate of positive drug tests to total welfare applicants ranges from 0.002 percent to 8.3 percent, but all except one have a rate below 1 percent. Meanwhile, they’ve collectively spent nearly $1 million on the effort, and millions more may have to be spent in coming years.
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Ok, ok, ok,.. so, not ALL of them are on drugs. But, when will they start testing these people for iPhones, TVs, tattoos and abortions?

:colbert:
 
Or, maybe since they know they are going to be tested they don't bother with the test if they know they are going to fail?
 
The purpose of this type of drug testing is not to catch people, but rather to act as a deterrent.

That testing shows a lower rate than normal makes me curious and/or doubtful.

Fern
 
Link is to "thinkprogress", more aptly called "thinkstupidity", so anything stated there has to be taken to be as truthful as the Inquirer reporting on the birth of bat-boy alien babies.

Regardless, if you think the level of drug use among the poor is less than that of the general population, you're delusional. Obviously, the stats are wrong or the 'study' is just bs. People who know they will be tested are less likely to apply. They can also stop using for a while to test, then resume. Either way, the conclusions are obvious garbage.
 
Fern said:
The purpose of this type of drug testing is not to catch people, but rather to act as a deterrent.

That testing shows a lower rate than normal makes me curious and/or doubtful.

Fern
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A deterrent against doing dumb things? They're already on welfare, so for many that ship has already sailed. At this point just let them have as much dignity as they can muster and if they are doing drugs who gives a shit?
 
PokerGuy said:
Link is to "thinkprogress", more aptly called "thinkstupidity", so anything stated there has to be taken to be as truthful as the Inquirer reporting on the birth of bat-boy alien babies.

Regardless, if you think the level of drug use among the poor is less than that of the general population, you're delusional. Obviously, the stats are wrong or the 'study' is just bs. People who know they will be tested are less likely to apply. They can also stop using for a while to test, then resume. Either way, the conclusions are obvious garbage.
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More importantly, the rationale for drug testing applicants is garbage, given that the real intended victims are poor children.
 
Poor people who cant afford food also cant afford drugs, so they pass many drug tests. This is something that should be very obvious. If you want to drug test people to find who uses the drugs, drug test people who make over 1 million a year. You will find most of the heavy cocaine users this way.
 
"Poor people who cant afford food also cant afford drugs, so they pass many drug tests"

This.

The attack on the poor continues though.
 
If someone proposed random drug testing of CEOs before companies could receive subsidies and tax breaks, and for every citizen who takes a mortgage credit on their taxes, maybe I would believe welfare drug testing wasn't just a way to piss on the powerless and feel smug and superior.
 
Newell Steamer said:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/02/26/3624447/tanf-drug-testing-states/



Ok, ok, ok,.. so, not ALL of them are on drugs. But, when will they start testing these people for iPhones, TVs, tattoos and abortions?

:colbert:
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This is the kind of crap that doesn't move the needle.

If you want to move the needle, look at the Dept of Defense:

https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/

Half of discretionary spending goes to the military. Freaking crazy.
 
Funny how the legislators have no problems with calling for drug testing people receiving hundreds of dollars a month in tax payer money, but don't call for drug testing themselves, who receives tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payer money.

Funny.
 
PokerGuy said:
Regardless, if you think the level of drug use among the poor is less than that of the general population, you're delusional. Obviously, the stats are wrong or the 'study' is just bs. People who know they will be tested are less likely to apply. They can also stop using for a while to test, then resume. Either way, the conclusions are obvious garbage.
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Can't tell if you're serious. Or maybe this is the "Argumentum ad lapidem" thing I read about?
 
nickqt said:
Funny how the legislators have no problems with calling for drug testing people receiving hundreds of dollars a month in tax payer money, but don't call for drug testing themselves, who receives tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payer money.

Funny.
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I'd suggest random breathalyzers, particularly after lunch on Friday.
 
BurnItDwn said:
Poor people who cant afford food also cant afford drugs, so they pass many drug tests.
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This. I have a pretty good job and I can't afford drugs. Poor communities tend to have problems with alcohol. Extremely poor communities (Indian reserves) has problems with solvent abuse. Both of those are legal and would pass drug tests.
 
Fern said:
The purpose of this type of drug testing is not to catch people, but rather to act as a deterrent.

That testing shows a lower rate than normal makes me curious and/or doubtful.

Fern
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It's because they already have a strong deterrent. Drugs aren't cheap. While alcohol is (relatively) cheap and doesn't show up on most drug tests.

The purpose of welfare drug testing was to give some government contracts to some drug testing companies. No other reason. Your populist interpretation was just the sales pitch.
 
Vic said:
It's because they already have a strong deterrent. Drugs aren't cheap. While alcohol is (relatively) cheap and doesn't show up on most drug tests.

The purpose of welfare drug testing was to give some government contracts to some drug testing companies. No other reason. Your populist interpretation was just the sales pitch.
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Let's not forget that drug testing revolves totally around cannabis remaining illegal and tested for.

You can go shoot heroin, smoke meth and snort coke on Friday, and piss clean come Monday.

Smoking cannabis on Friday and come Monday, you're probably fired.

Of course, cannabis is one of the most addictive and deadly substances on earth, unlike coke, heroin, meth, or alcohol.
 
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