Who P's in the cup?

[Jolly Roger]

An interesting topic from another board I frequent

Given that a lot of people need to pass a drug screening test to be eligible for employment and thus contribute state and federal taxes, would it make sense for those receiving assistance from the tax dollars removed from said paychecks to be required to pass a similar screen?

Discuss...

[WaterBoy]

I will take a stab at answering, but first I'll ask this question for clarification (and I'm trying to sound sarcastic here)-

What purpose do you believe that welfare, or rather, "assistance," serves? Stated differently, what is the intention of a welfare or transfer-payment program?

Edit: I sincerely meant to write "not sarcastic" when I posted this- it was really supposed to be a question

[Kyle Berggren]

1) Yes.
2) Isn't the point so that lazy people don't have to work or take any responsibility for their lives? It's like a governmental Robin Hood project, except I don't have to try to better myself, I can just collect money, drink, eat, & make more babies to get more money.

Isn't that the program we're talking about? or is that just what it became....

My vote, end welfare as we know it. 6 months of help, that's what you get. After that, if you can't support yourself, assistance goes away, or you live in government housing & perform civil service to pay for it. Think of it as washing dishes for your meal whether it be picking up litter, filing, answering phones, whatever. Or we could continue to give folks money to spend on drugs & booze, while they have more kids to make more money.... Without actually parenting their children.

I'm just a little bitter having grown up in a very poor area, with one parent that worked for the Department of Social & Health Services. Nothing like watching one of her clients move in next door (paid cash for the house) with a Mercedes... while still collecting assistance.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

1) Yes.
2) Isn't the point so that lazy people don't have to work or take any responsibility for their lives? It's like a governmental Robin Hood project, except I don't have to try to better myself, I can just collect money, drink, eat, & make more babies to get more money.

Isn't that the program we're talking about? or is that just what it became....

My vote, end welfare as we know it. 6 months of help, that's what you get. After that, if you can't support yourself, assistance goes away, or you live in government housing & perform civil service to pay for it. Think of it as washing dishes for your meal whether it be picking up litter, filing, answering phones, whatever. Or we could continue to give folks money to spend on drugs & booze, while they have more kids to make more money.... Without actually parenting their children.

I'm just a little bitter having grown up in a very poor area, with one parent that worked for the Department of Social & Health Services. Nothing like watching one of her clients move in next door (paid cash for the house) with a Mercedes... while still collecting assistance.

Here, here. Its about time we get some of the protestant work ethic that helped found the country back in our system. A little individual responsibility never hurt anyone. And the protestant work ethic does not in any way suggest pushing a religion. Its simply what my poly sci teacher calls doing what you need to do in order to provide for yourself and those depending on you.

[Adam G]

1) Yes.
2) Isn't the point so that lazy people don't have to work or take any responsibility for their lives? It's like a governmental Robin Hood project, except I don't have to try to better myself, I can just collect money, drink, eat, & make more babies to get more money.

Isn't that the program we're talking about? or is that just what it became....

My vote, end welfare as we know it. 6 months of help, that's what you get. After that, if you can't support yourself, assistance goes away, or you live in government housing & perform civil service to pay for it. Think of it as washing dishes for your meal whether it be picking up litter, filing, answering phones, whatever. Or we could continue to give folks money to spend on drugs & booze, while they have more kids to make more money.... Without actually parenting their children.

I'm just a little bitter having grown up in a very poor area, with one parent that worked for the Department of Social & Health Services. Nothing like watching one of her clients move in next door (paid cash for the house) with a Mercedes... while still collecting assistance.

Here, here. Its about time we get some of the protestant work ethic that helped found the country back in our system. A little individual responsibility never hurt anyone. And the protestant work ethic does not in any way suggest pushing a religion. Its simply what my poly sci teacher calls doing what you need to do in order to provide for yourself and those depending on you.

Is your teacher Garrison Keillor?