Preview

Should Welfare Be Drug Tested Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
698 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Should Welfare Be Drug Tested Essay
Mikayla White
Mr. Nask
Freshman English II
17, Feb. 2015
Should welfare recipients be drug tested in order to receive assistance? No, I do not think that welfare recipients should have to be drug tested in order to receive assistance. People that are for drug testing welfare recipients feel like it is not fair that they have to be drug tested in order to maintain a job but people receiving “free money” don’t have to be tested. I feel like they need to think beyond the fairness and think about more important things. It is unconstitutional, could cause children to suffer, and it will cost tax payers even more money. I believe that drug testing welfare recipients is completely against our constitutional rights of the United States. The Fourth Amendment to the United States constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizers and requires probable cause. So if there is no reason to think someone is using drugs, why drug test them? It is harassment for no reason and very judgmental. Studies have found that there is no difference in the amount of drugs used by welfare applicants and other people. (Cohen, 2011) Also a study has shown that seventy percent of drug users between the ages of 18 and 49 are employed full time. (Cohen, 2011) So why target people that are needing welfare? Simply to give the …show more content…
I think that it will just cause them to get worse as a person and decide to make money in an illegal way. The only people that will win from this will be lawyers, testing labs, and industries that sell solutions that help people to pass a drug test. (Jerczak, n.d.) I do not see any positive outcome by drug testing people for welfare. It is unconstitutional, will cause children to suffer, and will cost more money than it
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Policy Proposal II: Drug Testing For Welfare
    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Policy Proposal II: Drug Testing For Welfare

    Most people would argue that drug testing for welfare would be a waste of time and money. I will say personally that is completely false. Drug testing randomly for welfare program, would be a wonderful, and probably one of the only good things, to this already corrupt government program.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Should Drug Testing Be Mandatory for Welfare Recipients?
    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Should Drug Testing Be Mandatory for Welfare Recipients?

    Florida Governor Rick Scott made plans to test all welfare recipients to see if they are using drugs before they can receive payments is hardly saving the state any money, according to recent reports. At $30 per test, the state paid $28,800 in drug test reimbursements (960 reimbursements at $30 each, since about 2 percent also didn’t finish the application process) for those who did pass, while saving themselves about $66,000 in payments that did not have to be made for the year to those applicants that didn’t make it through for one reason or another (applicants receive $138 a month, or $1,656 per year).…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    U.S. Social Welfare Argument Summary
    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages

    U.S. Social Welfare Argument Summary

    Isn't it ironic in our society today, that individuals are administered drug testing if they want to bring home a paycheck in efforts to provide a roof over their head, clothes on their back, and food in their mouth? At the same time it's not required by another individual who is requesting government assistance in their efforts to receive the exact same things? You could argue that the individuals applying for those jobs are not personally obligated in any way to subject themselves to undergo any drug-testing. However, those same individuals would likely be overlooked for any consideration of employment due to failure of meeting the companies drug-free policy. So why aren't welfare recipients required to undergo drug-testing in order to receive any government assistance?…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Should Wefare Recipients Be Drug tested
    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Should Wefare Recipients Be Drug tested

    Pre-employment drug testing and post hiring random testing has become common place in today’s business world. In order to ensure that their employees can function safely for the good of themselves, fellow employees and the company property, companies have adopted the practice of drug testing employees.…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Welfare Unplugged Pros And Cons
    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Welfare Unplugged Pros And Cons

    The definition makes welfare sound easy, but there are many loop holes in the system that many people take advantage of. With over 40 million Americans receiving food stamps and 50 percent of households relying on government assistance, the system is doomed to fail if there is not a change. Hard working Americans will not be able to much longer provide what many receiving assistance have grown accustomed to. Throughout the course of American history welfare has been “reformed” many times to only cause problems later in the future. The idea of welfare was formed with great intentions, but it has spiraled out of control. Many people take advantage of the tax dollars that people work hard for. Some Americans spend their government check on drugs. They simply sale their food stamp card for extra cash to buy unnecessary things. The author of “Welfare Programs Should Include Mandatory Drug Testing” shares a personal experience and states, ‘Growing up, my mother was a recipient who abused the welfare system. I remember having no heat or electricity and being so hungry it was painful. My siblings and I would fist fight over food. She would trade her food stamp card for various things like cash, cigarettes and an occasional joint. She just wouldn 't help herself, and we were the kids that no one…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Do Will Welfare Drug Tests Save Money?
    • 1822 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Do Will Welfare Drug Tests Save Money?

    There is much debate regarding this issue. Supporters of requiring drug tests for welfare applicants believe that there will be many people deterred from applying due to knowing they will not pass. They also believe that some will fail the drug tests. These supporters believe this number of people will be so large that there will be a significant decrease in welfare spending. Other supporters have said “substance abuse is a prominent barrier preventing people from making the necessary transition from governmental dependence to self-reliance.”(Targeted News Service) Opponents have said this is a direct violation of our constitutional rights as American citizens. Some have even said it is not right to assume that just because people are poor, they drug users. Other opposers of welfare drug testing have argued that it will not save money at…

    • 1822 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasion on Drug Testing Welfare Recipients
    • 704 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Persuasion on Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

    If mandatory drug testing were implemented, fewer checks would be used to purchase illegal drugs, and be used for necessary items instead. When a person is addicted to drugs, it consumes the individual’s life. The person becomes obsessed with the drug they are addicted to; it becomes more important to them, than, food, family and even their own well-being. This behavior puts them and everyone under their care at risk. If a welfare recipient has children and they use the money meant to feed their children for drugs; not only has our government paid for someone’s high, but the child will now go without food. On the flipside, if mandatory random drug testing was part of the process, we would be able to identify abusers and have their children placed where they can be cared for more effectively. This may help the next generation not to follow in their parent’s footsteps. In identifying this type of behavior, we may be able to save not only the children, but the abusers as well.…

    • 704 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Welfare Reform
    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Welfare Reform

    There are approximately 67,891,000 Americans receiving government assistance, that is roughly 21% of the American population using some form of welfare. (Statistic Brain) While situations may arise, and people need help, the welfare system is now being used as a crutch rather than a stepping stone to becoming independent. The government should place more conditions on the various welfare programs. People all across the country are now abusing a system that was put in place to help people survive in a time of need. Welfare was created in the 1930s following the Great Depression to provide people with some assistance while the economy was at a low…

    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients
    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

    As for the pros of the required drug testing, there are quite a few to take into consideration. The first pro to consider is that it’s not fair to the tax payers to have to pay for others’ drug addictions. For all the tax payers in the world, all the taxes we pay out of our paychecks, pockets, etc. go to the government. This money then in turn goes to things such as paying schools, funding clubs, and more importantly, to support those persons seeking welfare. It’s not fair to those tax payers if in fact those people on or seeking welfare are stuck in an addiction and use the welfare money to support their habit. Tax payers are obviously working to earn their money, so why should they have to work to pay off the habits of the people who are too lazy…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Drug Testing Welfare Recipients
    • 1433 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

    Drug testing welfare recipients has been a major topic across the United States for a few years now. Many argue that if working class people are subject to a test prior to hire or randomly during the length of employment, why should those that don’t have to work for money not have the same treatment? Invasion of privacy is a huge disadvantage on the government’s part, yes it is free money but that doesn’t entitle anyone, even government, to control every aspect of your life or hold it constantly over a person’s head until they feel guilt or just flat decline assistance. Let’s ask ourselves just one question; if you went to the bank for a car loan, being this is a necessity for everyday living to own, how would you feel if they asked you to take a drug test prior to lending you the money? I feel many peoples’ tune would change drastically.…

    • 1433 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Welfare Programs Should Not Require Mandatory Drug Testing
    • 2044 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Welfare Programs Should Not Require Mandatory Drug Testing

    There are many welfare programs available to the public that a lot of individuals depend upon. Without access to certain benefits some people may not survive. Such benefits include food stamps, medical assistance, cash assistance, day care vouchers and job placement assistance. Although some may argue that there are people who take advantage of the welfare programs, there are plenty of people who require and appreciate the benefits provided. Recently there has been talk of drug testing welfare recipients. Because the public is concerned with welfare recipients taking advantage of the system they want to keep drug addicts from receiving benefits. This is a major controversy right now is our society but once investigated it is clear that welfare programs should not require mandatory drug testing.…

    • 2044 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients
    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

    Delaney, A., (2011, November 27). Rick Scott Backs Drug Tests for Welfare Beneficiaries, Public Worker, and Himself, Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27drug-testing-welfare-_n_983235-.html/…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Welfare Reform In The 1930's
    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Welfare Reform In The 1930's

    When a program consist of this many people there’s always going to be someone that messes it up or the entire group. “Supporters have argued for decades that requiring welfare recipients to take drug tests helps ensure that the government assistance is going to people who truly need it rather than supporting those who use illegal drugs”(Welfare Drug Testing 1), but the government is facing many hurdles to do so. “Welfare drug testing efforts have faced legal challenges from recipients who argue that such test violate the fourth amendment of the U.S. constitution which bans “ ‘ Unreasonable searches and seizures’ “(Welfare Drug Testing 1).This is outrageous though, that people can cry and call help for all the help they need, but as soon as they need to actually do something for these benefits all of the peoples mind set change from “I’ll do whatever it takes” to “I’m not doing that”. It should be known that once the government starts to give you money to live, that there should be no doubt you take a drug test for these benefits. The government doesn’t have to help you but they want to, so why fight them on this matter? The recipients that fight and fight over this controversial topic are the ones that don’t think their rights are being violated but the ones that are afraid that if this were to happen that they would lose their benefits. Why fight it unless you’re breaking the law…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay On Welfare Drug Testing
    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Persuasive Essay On Welfare Drug Testing

    Should people who want welfare be required to take a drug test? People say the fourth amendment protects them because it states “ unreasonable searches and seizures.” Welfare drug testing is a common way to make sure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. People who have to pay for other people’s welfare because they can go into work disagree with people who even have to think twice about drug testing being required to receive welfare. Taxpayers who pay on welfare think the government is responsible to make sure that their money is being used correctly and to make sure that drug users don’t receive any funds from the state. Why should we support their drug use, if you want drugs you should be able to pay for your own needs. We shouldn’t support basically feeding into their drugs use and letting them slowly kill themselves. Instead we should provide rehabs and hospital treatments. We don’t need to lock the addict up we need to get them help because they’re cable of so much more than what their setting their mindset do. They’re putting a limit to their goals and success in life. You can do…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Should Drug Testing Be Tested In Schools Essay
    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Should Drug Testing Be Tested In Schools Essay

    For countless years, students have been drug tested, while teachers remain un-involved. Although teachers can request at any time that a student get drug tested, students are unable to request for teachers to be tested. People may believe that a teacher should not be tested, but they have just as much access, if not more, to drugs as students do. Therefore; drug testing should be required for teachers. Besides the biological parents, teachers have a powerful influence over students. If a person is going to have a career that molds the teens in our society, regardless of whatever opinion the teacher may have about marijuana or heroin, he or she should ensue the rules that have been provided by our government.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics