There has been a lot of attention to this topic on Facebook, and other social networking websites. It seems to be the general consensus that, yes people that are applying for public assistance programs do need to be drug tested. I myself tend to agree.
Why should I pay to provide room and board to people that spend all their time taking drugs, or drinking?? I don't do any of those things, unless you count caffeine and nicotine, which some people do, but I'm not on any government assistance either.
I know some people truly do suffer from an addiction, and this can be a very hard thing to break(I'm a smoker, I can understand an addiction). Even though I understand an addiction, I don't really want to pay for someone else's. I know there is someone right now shopping in Wal-Mart, Kroger, Food Lion, where ever selling their public aid benefits to get drugs or alcohol or both!! Probably one in every city across the country!!
What do we do as a nation, with an applicant when they fail a drug test? I personally realize there are some people out there that are seriously addicted to drugs, but I also know there are some people that truly want to quit and clean up their act.
Do we just deny those people public aid forever, or do we allow them to enter a rehab program and attempt to make themselves a better person. Wouldn't it be possible to require them to enter a support program for people trying to break an addiction? After they enter and can provide a clean drug test, couldn't we test them monthly on a random day and they would have to keep themselves clean in order to receive their benefits? Everyone makes mistakes right? I know I'm not perfect believe me!
That would make sense to me, if they stay clean they can have assistance, and if they don't stay clean, there is no second chance. Their first chance was already their second chance. You screw up on me once, shame on you, but if you screw up on me twice shame on me right?
The government today would tell you that they don't provide public aid to those that have drug related crimes in their criminal past, which is true, but they still offer aid to their families. Do you really mean to tell me that the government is actually dumb enough to believe that those people don't get any benefits from that assistance at all!! Come on...Let's be real!!
While I was growing up my parents instilled some values in me, values that not everyone seems to have, but none the less I hold myself to them while living life. Help those who help themselves. That might sound really harsh, but why should I spend my $$$ supporting someone that has no desire to do anything to earn it!! Whether it is, breaking an addiction to drugs or some kind of "work" doesn't really matter does it?
Granted, some people, cannot do the same things I do and for some people it would be impossible and I understand that. All I want to know is why can't someone that is able to work, and needing some assistance can't do SOMETHING to earn it. Community service hours, doing things like reading to senior citizens, picking up litter during decent weather, volunteering to a big brother/sister type charity. Any of those things would be acceptable.
I also would love to see the job search program ENFORCED. I know several states, if not all of them require public aid recipients to actively hunt for work. I would love to see that program enforced. Did you know that if an aid recipient calls an establishment and asks them if they are hiring, and they say no that counts as one HOUR of job search time??????? Is this really realistic? AN HOUR??? I could see that being maybe a quarter of an hours credit, because lets be real, breaking 24 hours of job search time into every minute would be a pain.
Oh yeah, I would also like to see people that don't have children be able to get some assistance for medical insurance!(Yes we are back to this one again) Anyone can receive food stamps if they don't have any or a high enough income, with or without children. I think if the government opened up this kind of program many people would take part in it. If someone has an income charge them 10% of their income for their health insurance. For example a person working forty hours a week, at minimum wage, would have a premium of about $125. They take child support out of a parents pay check before it is even in their hands why couldn't they do the same with a health benefit plan? I understand that some people would want a family plan, then they could pay an additional 5% for a spouse, and an additional 2.5% per child. A family of 4 on one minimum wage paycheck would then pay about $250 a month for insurance coverage. Some people would say that is a lot of money on one minimum wage paycheck, but if you have children or develop some medical issues I think that would be a reasonable amount.
Based on what the doctors charge here just to get an appointment($135), it would pay for itself with just two doctors visits every month. Let's face it everyone, if you do have children that is easily attainable in todays society for many reasons.
Not to mention the impact it would have on our governments budget with all those already on public health insurance with an income! It could have a positive influence on our nations budget, I really don't see where it would make it any worse, but I'm not an expert!
Well I have ranted and raved here enough. I hope again I didn't babble your ear off or bore you to death, I look forward to seeing everyone else's thoughts and opinions on this matter. Feel free to use the comment section below for such a discussion!
Crys
No comments:
Post a Comment