opinion batchelor hugs drugtests 
 the new york times reported monday dozen state legislatures — majority republican controlled — forth initiatives make drug testing prerequisite manner public assistance welfare unemployment food stamps glance onslaught new proposals sensible taxpayers support drug habits poor closer examination reveals flawed logic based pre existing class racial stereotypes does solve pressing issues country faces

the arguments new policies come time staggering unemployment united states — currently 91 percent peak 101 percent 2009 twice high rates years ago largely republican controlled state houses proposals supported rhetoric misuse public funds excessive government spending increasing prevalence drug testing work place arguments align quite nicely proclaimed right wing preference cutting welfare programs government spending look past present initiatives reveals stated goals policies match reality

the economic effect making drug tests eligibility requirement public assistance appears marginal best negative worst aclu example report weeks following florida’s july adoption drug testing policy demonstrated state actually losing money initiative high cost drug testing kits outweighed money paid tested positive months data remain open interpretation used respective agendas times article noted remains small percent monthly benefits tested positive gone purchasing drugs people applying welfare need eat need place sleep need provide basic care families rendering ineligible welfare chances breaking cycle poverty drug use drastically reduced — reality economic burden struggling initiatives requiring drug testing benefits ruled unconstitutional past similar program struck michigan decade ago judge arguing mandatory drug testing violation citizen’s constitutionally guaranteed protection unreasonable search seizure logic difficult follow unless assume jobless probable cause drug use — gross instance discrimination based race class — reasonably require board importantly proposed enacted laws draw strength reinforce incredibly negative damaging stereotypes unemployed particularly given near doubling joblessness rate recent years standard portrayals benefits recipients as“welfare queensâ€ lazy incompetent drug addicts match reality unemployed americans simply victims recession struggling weather bad economic times times article discussed unemployed people busy trying make ends meet idea using affording drugs agree tragedy waste taxpayer’s dollars drug use greater tragedy lies drug addiction barring suffer addiction help feet exacerbate problems solidify class divides increase negative issue reflects growing concerning trend today’s politics — policies designed appeal party base actually accomplishing stated goals democrat republican lawmakers state national level grandstand party ideologies win election real people real problems suffering streets continue allow kinds policies — supported ideology fact — suffer consequences live worse world result

