The debate on drug testing for people on welfare has threatened to split the nation down the middle. In a number of states, the Republicans have often advanced the position that drug testing for people on welfare is essential and ought to be legislated on. On the other hand, the Democrats have opposed this move on grounds that drug testing does not really help and that just because the welfare people depend of federal and state aid does not grant the discriminative treatment. However, this debate has not been limited to parties, on the contrary, it assumed a bipartisan approach with American expressing different positions and given various justifications for their stands.
It is this paper’s contention that people on welfare should be subjected to drug tests. The paper advances this position based on a number of reasons key being the fact that people who actually work for their money are required to take tests. In addition, it would be an affront to the nobles of equity and fairness for taxpayers’ money to be spent on funding drug users and their activities. In that context, it is consequently a matter of policy for the federal and state governments to ensure that the welfare services fall to the right people and that potential drug users are prevented from the melee before loss of welfare aid.
The issue of drug testing should assume a serious character based on the stakes at risk. For starters, it should be appreciated that drugs are harmful to the health and wellbeing of individuals. In that context, every effort should be made and pursued to reduce the indulgence and consumption of drugs and related substances. Secondly, drugs thrive on an illicit and illegal industry that needs to be eradicated through every effort. This industry though deeply entrenched in the systems, needs to be tackled from both the top and the bottom. In that context, it would be essential for drug consumers at every level to be examined and measures taken to address the consumption and addiction issues. Welfare dependants as a constituency form a potential class of consumers. It would be consequently essential to legislate on their tests prior to and in the continued access and reception of federal and state aid. Over and above that, drug consumption by dependants on aid defeats the whole concept of aid. The welfare aid is meant to enable poor and the disabled access and receive basic services that they would otherwise be denied. The spirit of welfare lies in the need to ensure that all human beings, by virtue of being human attaint and live a decent life that is above what is often referred to as the poverty level. In that context, it is instructive to note that public coffers are intended for the promotion of decent life and good living. However, the danger of abuse of these opportunities is often high. This can be attributed to a confluence of factors that together lead to the possible abuse of welfare funds by its recipients. One form of abuse in this paper’s humble submission is the indulgence in drugs. It is emotive and certain that the consumption of drugs using the welfare funds is an affront to and a negation of the spirit of welfare funds. This must consequently be prevented through every measure possible. One way of ensuring the same is prevented is through legislating on the process and requiring that welfare recipients are subjected to drug tests on an occasional and regular setting. This would lock the potential misusers of welfare funds out of the service and hence enable the actualization of the ideals of welfare services. In addition, it would be helpful in saving the potential beneficiaries of welfare funds from losing the opportunities and funds through a preventive approach that is cautionary and rewarding. The rewarding can be extended into healthcare benefits as these individuals through being locked out of drug consumption would be saved from the vagaries of drug. Lastly, the requirement would enable an equitable approach in the system that does not apply double standards on groups. This is the premise of the argument for requiring that welfare recipients get subjected to drug tests. It is instructive to note the fact that generally all taxpayers are subjected to drug tests at different levels. It would be unequitable and imprudent to exempt beneficiaries of the welfare services and funds from drug tests on any grounds.
Even with the mentioned convincing arguments, a number of counterarguments have been floated in opposition of subjected welfare recipients from tests. Two important arguments have been advanced that the paper shall examine. First, the issue has been given a philosophical reasoning. It has been argued that giving welfare assistance to the poor is based on the need for societal responsiveness and the need to provide a decent living to the poor. This argument has been supported by the fact that ensuring the discharge of this role does not require the additional limits imposed by drug tests. To this end, it has been argued that the aid should be given on good faith and should not be followed by intense regulation and scrutiny. Secondly, it has been argued that the implementation of the drug tests for welfare recipients is costly and ends up increasing the overall costs of welfare services. This argument is based on the need for economical utility of funds. On that basis, it has been advanced that welfare costs incurred on implementation of drug tests would be better saved and used in an expansion of the recipients list. The advocates on this line of thought have maintained that there are better ways to regulate the consumption of drugs and that tying the regulation to welfare aid in one way or another negates the nobles of welfare.
In addition, empirical data has been floated proving that the imposition of drug tests on welfare recipients does not in any way solve the drug menace. On the contrary, it only eliminates from welfare benefits drug abusers who resort to other ways of getting cash. The other alternatives have even ended up in criminal activities to the detriment and risk of the communities. One would expect for a more responsive and informed approach to be pursued in the solution of the drug abuse cases.
However, despite the attendant opposition, over twenty nine states in America have adopted and enacted into law statutes that require drug tests on welfare users. In some states like Michigan, the legislation has been greeted with rejection and disgust with the public considering the move expensive, inefficient and insulting. In states like Texas, Indiana and Kansas the legislation sailed through unanimous votes revealing the mixed feeling that the American citizenry have for the policy. However, with the need for accountability and responsibility, it is expected that by the end of the year all states in America would have enacted similar legislation requiring that welfare recipients be subjected to drug tests. It is consequently important to develop a strong and progressive legal regime that would turn out to be beneficial in the long term. In line with this goal, it is essential for policy formulators and implementers to consider ways of implementation that would limit the costs to the bare minimum. This would be essential for the fulfilment of the nobles of legislation without exceeding the costs. In the long run, the regulation of welfare funds ought to be in the interest of the public. The paper, therefore, supports the approach at regulating the use of welfare funds for good and noble purposes only. The exposure of drugs to the society needs to be reduced and an all-inclusive approach assumed. On that line, it is positive for the twenty nine states to have already developed legislation to tackle the issue on account of welfare recipients. For the other twenty one states, it is time the parties responsible took cue and pursued the goals in the overall interest of the public. In the long run, the use of public utilities should be in the interest of the public. From the general discourse, it is evident that majority of the Americans want welfare recipients subjected to drug tests and consequently prevented from using the funds in drugs.
References
Huizinga , D. (2013, April 29). Drug testing welfare recipients? Not so fast. Washington Times. Retrieved from http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/consider-again/2013/apr/29/drug-testing-welfare-recipients-not-so-fast/
Rourke, J. T. (2011). You Decide! 2012: Current Debates in American Politics. New York: Prentice Hall.
Schneider, B. (2013, April 11). Senate approves bill requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. jconline.com. Retrieved from http://www.jconline.com/article/20130411/NEWS02/304110011/Senate-approves-bill-requiring-drug-testing-welfare-recipients
