All-purpose news and politics thread

[Cavemold]

No, I'm not accepting of hateful bigots.

Problem?

I'm sure the millions of bigots feel the same way about you to. I can hear them say , those commies!!

[Slam_Bradley]

I'm sort of torn on this one.

Arizona is so much smarter and more efficient than Florida that the result is somehow going to be different?

[Cavemold]

Hopefully they this time it will be more efficient....

Then again........ We all know how efficient goverment programs are....

[Dreadstar]

Arizona is so much smarter and more efficient than Florida that the result is somehow going to be different?

The difference is, it's a dry heat.

[Jim Thompson]

Arizona is so much smarter and more efficient than Florida that the result is somehow going to be different?

No, it's not that. I don't think Arizona is going to have any more success with the logistics of something like this than others have had. But I do wonder that, if one is going to accept government assistance, if they ought not have to meet some requirements.

All this simply re-enforces my belief recreational drugs should be legalized, though.

[Cavemold]

Do you think name calling is going help people see things your way spike? Or will it only fuel their fire?

[Cavemold]

No, it's not that. I don't think Arizona is going to have any more success with the logistics of something like this than others have had. But I do wonder that, if one is going to accept government assistance, if they ought not have to meet some requirements.

All this simply re-enforces my belief recreational drugs should be legalized, though.

Agreed , although some drugs the American society can't handle.

[Slam_Bradley]

No, it's not that. I don't think Arizona is going to have any more success with the logistics of something like this than others have had. But I do wonder that, if one is going to accept government assistance, if they ought not have to meet some requirements.

All this simply re-enforces my belief recreational drugs should be legalized, though.

There are really only two rationales for doing this. One is to save money by cutting off aid to people using drugs. Florida has shown that that isn't going to happen as it costs more to run the testing than you'd save. Add the cost of lawsuits and it's a program that will cost the state rather than save money.

The other is just to punish people for being addicts. Because true "recreational" drug users will just quit. And you're not just punishing the users. "Sorry Johnny and Janie. But Mommy used drugs so you don't get to eat this month. Try to get Mommy to quit."

[Jim Thompson]

There are really only two rationales for doing this. One is to save money by cutting off aid to people using drugs. Florida has shown that that isn't going to happen as it costs more to run the testing than you'd save. Add the cost of lawsuits and it's a program that will cost the state rather than save money.

The other is just to punish people for being addicts. Because true "recreational" drug users will just quit. And you're not just punishing the users. "Sorry Johnny and Janie. But Mommy used drugs so you don't get to eat this month. Try to get Mommy to quit."

Well, I have to go through periodic drug tests to keep my jobs and continue to get paid...and that doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

[Slam_Bradley]

Well, I have to go through periodic drug tests to keep my jobs and continue to get paid...and that doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

What is the rationale behind you doing drug tests at work? And does that same rationale apply to people receiving benefits?

[Nick Soapdish]

There are really only two rationales for doing this. One is to save money by cutting off aid to people using drugs. Florida has shown that that isn't going to happen as it costs more to run the testing than you'd save. Add the cost of lawsuits and it's a program that will cost the state rather than save money.

The other is just to punish people for being addicts. Because true "recreational" drug users will just quit. And you're not just punishing the users. "Sorry Johnny and Janie. But Mommy used drugs so you don't get to eat this month. Try to get Mommy to quit."

Maybe dealing with having to live in Arizona requires more illegal drugs than Florida. So if they have a markedly higher rate of drug use, they might be able to save some money, even after taking out the cost of (probably) failing to defend the law. And it's pretty likely that it'll go down because the Supreme Court has found it to be unconstitutional back in '97 and so did the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2003 when Michigan attempted to pass such a law.

And the Georgia Senate just passed a similar measure.

[Goggindowner]

Welfare programs need to have treatment programs worked in to them some how. Originally I was for the drug testing method, but the numbers really just don't add up for it to be effective. Instead of just cutting these people out, assist them in over coming their addiction and rejoining the work force in some productive way.

Assuming, of course, there are enough jobs to even get them in somewhere.

[Jim Thompson]

What is the rationale behind you doing drug tests at work? And does that same rationale apply to people receiving benefits?

Well, my company's rationale is they have a right to know if one of the people they're hiring to teach is in a coherent state of mind to do that, I'm sure. And since I agreed to submit to testing as a stipulation of taking their money, I don't take any issue with that. You take someone else's dough, they have a right to put forward some things they expect, I think.

[Goggindowner]

The other is just to punish people for being addicts. Because true "recreational" drug users will just quit. And you're not just punishing the users. "Sorry Johnny and Janie. But Mommy used drugs so you don't get to eat this month. Try to get Mommy to quit."

Drug addicts don't have kids. They just give birth to future addicts and moochers!

[Jim Thompson]

Welfare programs need to have treatment programs worked in to them some how. Originally I was for the drug testing method, but the numbers really just don't add up for it to be effective. Instead of just cutting these people out, assist them in over coming their addiction and rejoining the work force in some productive way.

Assuming, of course, there are enough jobs to even get them in somewhere.

Not enough shovel ready work out there?

Seriously, though, given the current state of the US Infrastructure, it would seem there is plenty of work that needs doing. Trouble is, I suspect there are not a lot of people trained to be qualified to do the work that actually needs to be done.