Thread: UA for Public Assistance?

Originally Posted by bharner

Here ya go, watch this movie: The Wild And Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

It's about the family of Jesco White. He's in his 60's or 70's and has occasionally held down small jobs ad have his siblings and their children. But, due to knowing how the system works they survive primarily off drugs, booze, and SSDI.

It's a documentary and it's pretty much how a decent portion of WV survives. Same out here in rural VA. Hell, right now I could go on disability and get not much less than my 50 hours a week earns me.

Right. Let me amend my statement then to exclude families without their own Wikipedia entry and/or having several films made about them. Plus, the law we're debating specifically deals with TANF which I don't believe encompasses SSDI. On a tangent, are you suggesting that people receiving social security should also be subject to random drug tests to receive their checks?

Interesting discussion gentlemen. Just though I'd let you know that my interest in this topic have just lead me to order both the book "nickel and Dime" and it's rebuttal "Scratch Beginnings" through amazon.

Originally Posted by commiecat

Right. Let me amend my statement then to exclude families without their own Wikipedia entry and/or having several films made about them. Plus, the law we're debating specifically deals with TANF which I don't believe encompasses SSDI. On a tangent, are you suggesting that people receiving social security should also be subject to random drug tests to receive their checks?

As someone who manages an assisted living home for adults with intellectual disabilities... I would have no problem with it. I know my boss would have a heart attack but, quite honestly, if you are receiving government assistance you should be accountable to them. Even if it was random checks of people on SSI, I think most folks receiving it would be amenable to doing it as a.safeguard. However, SSI has a sub $700 dollar monthly benefit so if it is your only income, you can't do much. SSDI however, is far easier to abuse. I could do some paperwork and get put on SSDI and get only a few k less, annually, than I earn right now.

Edit:SSI is also based on parents former income which can skew numbers and give some people a.lot more money...

Stop the presses: I agree with Ivan here. Who'd have thought? ;-)

I'm not opposed to a drug test idea, but I think the system would be better served, as Utopian mentioned, if government food assistance recipients could only purchase foods of limited scope, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Those that are a bit older, do you remember the yellow label with black lettering "GENERIC" foods that stood out like a sore thumb? I see nothing wrong with having acceptable foods being labeled with a brightly colored sticker or some other similar identifier. Making no mistake to the recipient and yes, also to the public, that the food is government funded. On more than one occasion I have seen food stamp recipients pay for high end foods such as a case of crab legs with the food stamp card. If I were ever to need food stamps temporarily, I can say that I would be grateful that they would be available to me. Under the system I propose, I can also say that I would feel shame publicly and as such, would do everything within my power to get off of the public assistance as soon as possible. I think that's how it should work.

Chris L

Originally Posted by bharner

Here ya go, watch this movie: The Wild And Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

It's about the family of Jesco White. He's in his 60's or 70's and has occasionally held down small jobs ad have his siblings and their children. But, due to knowing how the system works they survive primarily off drugs, booze, and SSDI.

It's a documentary and it's pretty much how a decent portion of WV survives. Same out here in rural VA. Hell, right now I could go on disability and get not much less than my 50 hours a week earns me.

Holy Crap! I just watched the trailer to that movie. If you've ever worn a wife beater to a funeral...you've cruised straight past, might be a redneck and tumbled headlong into you're DEFINITELY white trash!

Bumping this thread up to LMAO status with this link;

Legislators Totally Cool With Required Drug Testing Unless It Applies To Them - The Consumerist


""After it passed, Rep. McMillin got pretty upset and pulled his bill," Dvorak said. "If anything, I think it points out some of the hypocrisy. ... If we're going to impose standards on drug testing, then it should apply to everybody who receives government money."

With regard to UA for government employees. Definitely! Random urinalysis is a common fixture for folks in the military and should be for elected officials as well. In the military "random" seemed to take on some pretty odd quirks at times. Whenever we returned from a deployment, it just so happened that everyone who just got home was "randomly" selected for a urinalysis. Me, my entire shop and most of the people I deployed to Saudi Arabia with were UA'd only a couple days after our return. I remember thinking, "Really!? I couldn't even drink a beer in that God forsaken hole but somehow these people think we've been burnin' the devil's lettuce!?"

This guys reaction is sadly not all that surprising. If I were the King of Somewhere Hot, all members of the House and Senate would be recalled at 0200 the day after tomorrow and ordered to provide a specimen on the spot. Anyone who refused, or later popped positive would be canned on the spot, no retirement, no benefits, get your stuff and get out! Wait, we'll get some of DC's finest to show you to the door.

Oh if it gets down to UA for elected officials then you better believe that they'll legalize drugs before close of business that same day.

Originally Posted by gugi

I fully support this, but only as long as random drug and alcohol tests are required for everybody else who is getting paycheck from the taxpayers. Including veterans, judges, governors....
If there'll be getting rid of the crackheads and drunkards the best place to start is from those who can do most damage, i.e. the ones with power.

This isn't apples and apples. The people you list above are getting money for services rendered. The welfare people are getting free money.

Stubear, if those people REALLY want to reduce their stress level, they could do it by getting a job. Pissing in a cup isn't stressful unless you are doing drugs. I had to do it to keep my job for years and also had to do it in the military.

I know a woman in Alabama that has 3 kids by 3 different men and is now married to a 4th. She has a super fast Internet connection and at least 3 computers so she and her family can play World of Warcraft all day and night. When I asked her what her job is she answered, "my kids are my job." What kind of crap is that?

I don't know. Those people have a much bigger impact on this country that welfare recipients. I do not think SOPA came about because someone on welfare likes to smoke pot and play call of duty.

Originally Posted by Crotalus

This isn't apples and apples. The people you list above are getting money for services rendered. The welfare people are getting free money.

Stubear, if those people REALLY want to reduce their stress level, they could do it by getting a job. Pissing in a cup isn't stressful unless you are doing drugs. I had to do it to keep my job for years and also had to do it in the military.

I know a woman in Alabama that has 3 kids by 3 different men and is now married to a 4th. She has a super fast Internet connection and at least 3 computers so she and her family can play World of Warcraft all day and night. When I asked her what her job is she answered, "my kids are my job." What kind of crap is that?