I honestly think this is a wonderful idea and should be mandatory for EVERYONE getting any type of government assistance. All of us who spend week in and week out working hard and paying taxes should know that those people who our tax dollars are being spent on are not out buying illegal drugs when they should be buying food or paying billings with OUR tax dollars.

Why is it that the people who need help the most , have to jump through the most hoops. Before these people were on UI they had jobs , with no Drug Testing involved.

I know, that's a good question. It's the same way with the jobs. The lower the pay the more crap you gotta deal with.

Personal Thought : Even if the very Few who are using drugs are cut off , they are not going to stop, the money for the drug use will have to be met, so be prepared for a further increase in Crime.

Pretty much. Most of the people on UI aren't druggies, why are Americans letting these moronic politicians create and pass laws like this! It's heart breaking, it really is.

Oh come on now!
First off unemployment is insurance that the ex employer pays into, not you!

You know more money goes to alcohol abuse.
They do not test for drunks, yet the money is still "pissed" away.
Add testing for both, and you would have some fairness.

However everyone needing any type of govt. assistance including alcoholics should just quit their addiction, or they will be screwed harder.
Since everyone can get govt. med. assistance later in life, why don't we just drug test everyone in the nation at least once a week.

A better solution, that almost every company in america uses, is to require recepits as proof of legal purchase with the govt. money.

This way if John's friends with jobs come over to get him drunk and high, he can still feed the family and live with some dignity.

Control,
Everyone wants some!

[edit on 20-3-2010 by SLaPPiE]

I guess the guys caught out are expected to become respectable citizens once they miss the rent checks and are out on the street?

Hasn't the War on Drugs already criminalized enough people in society? In areas like Detroit...there just aren't enough jobs to go round. There are already systems in place (rightly or wrongly) to encourage the bone-idle back to work. Allowing a policy of drug-testing will only criminalize more people, increase poverty, put more people on the streets and generate crime.

A minority of the unemployed don't want to work...this BS would throw a net over the majority that do.

These a**holes need to get busy generating the economy and increasing jobs. Abdicating their responsibilities and blaming the unemployed for not working is standard deflection and scapegoating.

Well I'm against any sort of stateor federal funded "welfare".

EI is another story, that's fine, I think we should be giving people more EI.

However, welfare? Without a debilitating condition there are far too many people to take advantage of this and have the tax payer foot the bill for their choice of lazzy lifestyle.

Good on you Georgia, test them and those that break the rules and who are using tax payer money to fund a drug habit will get thrown out.

Those who don't d othat, have nothing to worry about.

~Keeper

to be honest with you my personal opinion is that this will undoubtably create the false impression on the masses that 'obviously' using illegal substances must CREATE an inability to work, or somehow get you unemployed, this is farther from the truth than you'd like to beleive, lots of people use drugs recreationally and medicinally and hold down great jobs, from dish washing jobs, to working hospitals as nurse practitioners and doctors

i doubt there is an intentional 'conspiracy' to create this illusion that drugs inevitably make work impossible and are somehow always connected with unemployment, but it is a by product that the masses will start to assume

either way it's good motivation for those that do better without drugs

You know if you ever had been convicted of selling drugs you are not eligible for food stamps. I'm sure they mean well but it wont solve anything. It will likely cost more to administer the drug tests than the amount they save after kicking some people off the 'payroll'. Like drug testing in the job market, those with a little bit of wits that don't want to quit will find a way to pass their tests.

Originally posted by indigothefish
to be honest with you my personal opinion is that this will undoubtably create the false impression on the masses that 'obviously' using illegal substances must CREATE an inability to work, or somehow get you unemployed, this is farther from the truth than you'd like to beleive, lots of people use drugs recreationally and medicinally and hold down great jobs, from dish washing jobs, to working hospitals as nurse practitioners and doctors

Your absolutely right. Anyone that has ever held a job knew of fellow employees that did some type of recreational drugs. Whether it be illegal drugs or misuse of prescription drugs. Heck, even Rush Limbaugh was using prescription drugs illegally and he was gainfully employed.

Frankly, this seems to be nothing more than lawmakers acting out on stereotypes. I wouldn't be surprised to see a religion test requirement soon. With lawmakers claiming that people of religion are somehow more honest and less likely to file fake claims.

I wonder how much money the state loses to substandard building and fake cost overruns by contractors covering the expense of their drug use.

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

Those who don't d othat, have nothing to worry about.

~Keeper

You are not correct here. Everyone should worry. These tests are far from 100% accurate. What about the false positives and false adulterations that occur? I, personally, am a VICTIM of this. I do not use drugs and alcohol but, guess what... I got FIRED from a job I had had for 18 years because the test WAS WRONG - ruining my reputation at the time. I have since been vindicated - financially, reputation-wise, and I got my job back with all pension, backpay with interest, etc.. restored, BUT I had the resources available to me to put up the FIGHT. Do these people have the resources????? I somehow doubt it.

I used to think like you do until I was proved wrong. I am totally against any kind of drug or alcohol testing unless they use hair folicle testing which is way more accurate (still not 100%) - which they won't because it's too expensive - it's cheaper to use the bogus urine test and then deal with the people that fail these tests on an exception basis - those that fight it and those that can't - and it IS the government we're talking about.



[edit on 20/3/2010 by Iamonlyhuman]

I don't really see the point to drug test for unemployment. When you DO have a job your employer pays into this fund, not you. When you lose your job your given a certain amount of time to recieve the benefits and to find other work. If your FIRED, that is where the issue comes in. Employers don't want to just give up that money THEY paid in. So I think thats where the drug test is coming in....but I am ALL IN FAVOR of a drug test for welfare....unemployment can't really be abused, since their is a time limit AND your employer has to agree to the benefit, welfare on the other hand, for many...its a disgrace

So now our corrupt politicians want to scapegoat people in society allready struggling.Theres always going to be people who abuse the system.The idea will just create more misery i.m.o.