Georgia passes drug testing for welfare bill...

[BanginJimmy]

What kind of math are you using?

If there are 10k people on welfare, avg $500 a month, that's $6k a year, that's $60mil in welfare. If it costs $100/pp to cover all costs associated with testing (administration costs, tests, waste disposal, etc., etc.) thats $1mil in testing. If (and that's a big if) .5% of 10k people fail, that's 50 people, that's $5000 in tests, that's $300,000 in welfare.

Youve spent $1,005,000 (per 10k people, per year) to save $300,000 in welfare checks with a net loss of $705,000 because you think you have some moral superiority and don't think people should be smoking weed while on welfare. Still seem like a good investment to you?

1. I never said anything about 100% testing every month.
2. $100 per test couldnt be any more far fetched. Cups, about $3.00 each. Admin costs, very low as no special training is required. Disposal fees are VERY low as no special disposal is required unless a medical condition leads to noticeable blood in urine. Additional lab testing for the positive tests at $150 each is maybe another 40k?
3. My moral, and mental, superiority has nothing to do with it. The laws of the state says they shouldnt smoke weed, not only when they are on welfare, but ever.

[bu villain]

I think Jimmy has made some good points and I can understand where he comes from. I suppose I just have a little more Libertarian view. I really don't want the government monitoring what people put in their bodies.

[BanginJimmy]

I suppose I just have a little more Libertarian view. I really don't want the government monitoring what people put in their bodies.

Its not about monitoring what your average person puts in their body at all. Since you have proven you are not capable of supporting yourself and require actual tax payers to do it for you, it is in the interest of the govt and the tax payers that you keep yourself in a hire-able condition. You volunteer to give up that little bit of privacy in order to get your handouts. No one is forcing you to do anything. This is just like requiring a drivers license an car insurance to drive on public roads.

[bu villain]

Its not about monitoring what your average person puts in their body at all. Since you have proven you are not capable of supporting yourself and require actual tax payers to do it for you, it is in the interest of the govt and the tax payers that you keep yourself in a hire-able condition. You volunteer to give up that little bit of privacy in order to get your handouts. No one is forcing you to do anything. This is just like requiring a drivers license an car insurance to drive on public roads.

As I said before, the goal is a respectable one (make people hireable) but I don't think that all other goals are subordinate to that one. Not to mention I don't think having drug testing will provide any significant increase in making people hireable anyways. To me, welfare is primarily about helping out someone who is struggling, not the government bribing them to do what we want.

[BanginJimmy]

To me, welfare is primarily about helping out someone who is struggling, not the government bribing them to do what we want.

You are right, the purpose is a temporary hand for people that fall on hard times. Too bad it is used as a career path for the lazy and stupid instead.

[bu villain]

You are right, the purpose is a temporary hand for people that fall on hard times. Too bad it is used as a career path for the lazy and stupid instead.

I don't think the answer is to try and legislate against being lazy and stupid though. There will always be people out there who will be that way. I think we concluded welfare payments average only a few hundred a month. That's not much of a career. If that level of living isn't enough to get someone inspired to do better in their life, I don't think a drug test is going to help either.