Rasmussen
Dear Welfare applicant: pee in this cup, please
53% Support Automatic Drug Testing For Welfare Applicants
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 53% believe all welfare applicants should be tested for illegal drug use before receiving benefits. Only 13% support randomly drug testing applicants, while 29% believe applicants should only be tested if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are using illegal drugs.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
100% of military applicants pee in cups (and actually work for the money they make).
ted c on July 20, 2011 at 4:54 PM
LOL, did Allah have a few apple-tini’s before he came to work today? What’s will all the goofy headline titles?
I like it.
And you’re darned tootin’ pee in this cup. One test before they check goes out and once randomly every year.
Dopavash on July 20, 2011 at 4:55 PM
There was a time when the government would actually come to a welfare recipient’s home and check the living conditions and even the cupboard and fridge for the amount of food.
Ben Hur on July 20, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Let’s check for legal status, too. No, I mean REALLY check…not some piece of paper from the freakin’ MEXICAN CONSULATE! Hello, Raleigh NC!
SouthernGent on July 20, 2011 at 4:56 PM
I’m with the 29%. Although I fully understand the sentiment, there are too many who need asst. temporarily and who are loathe to ask for this help.
Connie on July 20, 2011 at 4:56 PM
I suspect 100% of private sector employees pee in a cup as a condition of hiring. And I suspect most are suspect to a random drug test.
DaydreamBeliever on July 20, 2011 at 4:57 PM
I’d probably add alcohol too, just not for random testing. I don’t begrudge anyone a drink or two, but if they can’t cut it out enough for a scheduled test, then we’re enabling bad behavior.
I’d also support something that made them explain frivolous purchases like big screen TVs. There should be even greater incentives to get off of welfare.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Yeah, I think it should be done after they’ve received assistance for a while. With the warning that they will have to be clean in the future if they stay on welfare for a while. Then the threat of a drug test would be a deterrent in itself.
ninjapirate on July 20, 2011 at 4:59 PM
I haven’t had to do that since I was a teenager. In fact, I’d bet that most office jobs don’t require a drug test as a condition of employment. But I don’t know.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 5:00 PM
I’m not sure why the drug testing would make a huge difference here. I’m glad people are loathe to ask actually. Those are the people who likely can pass a drug test and who actually want out of the system as soon as possible. But I don’t see how this hurts them.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 5:03 PM
Yes, they do. HR gives you the form; you got to LabCorp or wherever within 24 hours.
DaydreamBeliever on July 20, 2011 at 5:05 PM
100% of applicants should be screened.
100% of applicants should be (re)screened when (re)applying for welfare benefits.
Hell, screen ‘em every four weeks. But completely random “SURPRISE VISIT FROM UNCLE SUGAR” testing is probably more of a pointless bureaucratic waste than a benefit.
Jeddite on July 20, 2011 at 5:06 PM
Against my huumang rights mang!
Caper29 on July 20, 2011 at 5:08 PM
Kinda like how everyone is so agreeable to asking for proof of citizenship when someone is suspected of being an illegal immigrant. We all know no one has protested that. Racists!
Scrappy on July 20, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Not everyone. You can’t truly think you’re speaking for all offices. I work at a large, global corporation, and not only was I never drug tested before I started working here, I also am not subject to any random drug tests. And that’s been true at every office job I’ve ever had, most of which have been for large corporations.
And that’s just the office jobs. The same was true of every waiting tables job I had, which was good because they wouldn’t have had much of a waitstaff if they did.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Requiring here in FL.
tree hugging sister on July 20, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Nowhere even close to 100%. But if you are asking for public assistance, I’m totally in support of drug testing. I’m also in favor of alcohol/smoking testing too. Taxpayer money shouldn’t be going for drugs/cigarettes/booz.
lorien1973 on July 20, 2011 at 5:13 PM
I have to for a company that I contract for and my wife does where she works.
So do I have problem making people that we support take a drug test?
gtfooh!
esnap on July 20, 2011 at 5:14 PM
What about the ATF?
Chip on July 20, 2011 at 5:15 PM
I support the idea of drug-testing applicants for welfare programs (includes Food Stamps). BUT the handicapping of this idea will be the Left’s inevitable demand for “more programs” to “provide for” drug users if/when the consequences of their drug use disqualifies them (*) from welfare programs.
(*) disqualifying drug users from welfare programs is, I assume, the objective.
Lourdes on July 20, 2011 at 5:17 PM
Keep focus …
The problem isn’t welfare recipients.
The problem is welfare.
Get rid of it – and you won’t have to infringe upon anyone’s civil rights – and all can live happily ever after.
HondaV65 on July 20, 2011 at 5:17 PM
Agreed, but I’d be more lenient on smoking for those who are only on it temporarily. It’s a hard and costly habit to quit, but it shouldn’t affect someone’s ability to get a job the way being a habitual drinking or drug user can.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Receiving welfare isn’t a civil right.
Esthier on July 20, 2011 at 5:18 PM
I have no problem with this. If you are not going to work, if you are going to live off of tax payers, you give up your freedom.
There is a welfare culture. It is a distinct culture. Sure, there are exceptions to the rules, but most of these folks are doing nothing with their lives while we we support them.
I have seen it all up close.
We recently did work in a government housing unit. Half of these people sleep until 11-12 noon. Over half of the apartments are disgustingly filthy. They do not care for the free gifts they have been given by others who are working hard.
JellyToast on July 20, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Can I use my food stamps to pay for my drug test?
/sarc
infidel4life on July 20, 2011 at 5:23 PM
EBT/food-stamps should be like this
1. Only be good for dried beans and rice
2. Only be 30 bucks per month
3. Drugs screening to enroll w/ random tests
4. If you fail the test you are kicked of the rolls for 5 years.
As for HUD, I say Sherriff Joe Arpio has that one figured out. Tents Mofo, STFU and be grateful.
esnap on July 20, 2011 at 5:25 PM
Read an article the other day that said the majority of food stamp recipients are still receiving food stamps after being on the program for eight years.
What’s your definition of “temporary”?
AZCoyote on July 20, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Nobody who gets on welfare ever gets off welfare. Living off the govt is the equivalent of a $60K a year job when taking into account free food, free rent, free medical care, etc.
Welfare is temporary like the FCC tax was supposed to be temporary…lasted from 1902 to 2010.
angryed on July 20, 2011 at 5:35 PM
How is that a split? Random and Regular testing just siphon votes from each other. 35% to 60% is not a split, it is a landslide.
astonerii on July 20, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Welfare dependents are about the only people left in America that don’t get drug tested.
uknowmorethanme on July 20, 2011 at 5:43 PM
I just had random drug test last week! I think this is a great idea, I have for years thought they should be tested so I am not funding their drug habits and by extension the drug cartels or terrorists. Haven’t they made commercials about that, how buying drugs funds those people.
bluemarlin on July 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM
Hey, test them randomly and frequently. No checks to welfare recipients who are using illegal drugs.
If they want more freedom, they can get a job and lose the intrusion into their lives.
I know this sounds cruel, but when you’re on the dole, the proper attitude is humility and shame. Anyone who doesn’t feel that way is a cancer on our society.
I would put everyone who is unable to take care of themselves and their children into state housing with 24 hour guards. No visitors allowed except in designated areas. Cafeteria to provide nourishing meals for them and their children, and day care for kids so parents can get their butts out there to pound the pavements for work or do REAL job training.
Kind of like our parents raised us – “under my roof, follow my rules. You want to be free and independent, go out and support yourself.”
disa on July 20, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Most of the lower-end jobs require drug testing. I suspect that’s why many welfare recipients stay on welfare. Let’s eliminate that alternative.
disa on July 20, 2011 at 6:12 PM
I had to a couple of jobs ago. It was a consulting job, so I don’t know if the requirement was the consulting firm’s or the client’s.
I also once had an interview where they required a credit check before they could go past the first interview. Now that’s something we should consider for government assistance, as well…
And if taxes didn’t go to support drug-addled losers, I think legalization/decriminalization would be more popular. I know I’d drop my objections.
Crawford on July 20, 2011 at 7:02 PM
Test early and often.
J.E. Dyer on July 20, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Because it’s ok for our taxes to support alcoholic losers.
uknowmorethanme on July 20, 2011 at 7:57 PM
This is nothing but big government, sadism, and a war on marijuana. Hard drugs spend very little time in the system. Addicts without money are just going to cause violence or more petty theft to feed their addiction. Companies that supply drug tests are going to be the only winners here. People who just want to dump on the downtrodden will be running out of tissues and vaseline, so there are two other industries that will benefit.
It will probably cost taxpayers more money than not testing them and it will continue to perpetuate more of the searching of citizens with no reasonable suspicion that seems to be all the rage with some of my other small government colleagues.
LevStrauss on July 20, 2011 at 8:16 PM