Funny thing on the way to a Republican one party police
state, those standing up for their constitutional rights were denied food
stamps. Think how far Republicans can push drug testing for whatever they
eventually feel needs a little tough love.
Even worse, Americans don’t understand what Republicans mean
when they insist on changing federal programs to state controlled block grants;
no federal strings attached to the block granted money, which means the GOP can
require any test they’d like to penalize and choke off benefits. Cruel? They’d
tell you to get a job, the kind they know will never be created through tax cuts.
Let’s take a look at what’s already happened with drug
testing that ended up costing taxpayers in Missouri $25,000 for each of the 20
positive tests…don’t complain, it’s the principle that matters. WSJ:
In Missouri, over an eight-month period, 636 drug tests were administered, yielding 20 positive tests at a cost of $500,000, the Kansas City Star reported in December. Two hundred people refused to take the tests and were denied benefits, the Star reported.
200 people might have refused the drug test as a way to
protect their constitutional rights. Ask any tea party member of a 501(c)(4) if
they would take a drug test to exempt themselves from paying federal taxes?
812 people applied for assistance, according to figures from the Tennessee Department of Human Services cited by The Tennessean. Four who refused to participate in the process were denied benefits. Six who answered “yes” were tested, and one failed. In all, five were denied benefits.
Scott Walker iisn'tlooking out for the taxpayers, he’s using
that empty excuse to push is ideological doctrine that sometimes saves money, but
most of the time wastes it (like the Medicaid money).
And look at the chart showing the rise, fall, and rise again of food stamp assistance. Come on, this is an easy one.
The rise and fall coincides with the economic job swings seen in the Bill Clinton years through Bush and the Great Recession. Businesses large and small were wiped out and those that did survive changed their business model to a bare bones full time staff with part timers brought in only when seasonally necessary. The chart has nothing to do with freeloaders or drug addicts.
"200 people might have refused the drug test as a way to protect their constitutional rights. Ask any tea party member of a 501(c)(4) if they would take a drug test to exempt themselves from paying federal taxes?"
ReplyDeleteI'm not a tea party member but I'll be happy to answer that for you. Since taxes are voluntary (although under the threat of force) and not mandatory, there is no need to ask for an exemption. I would never consent to a search or seizure. It is their constitutional right to refuse a drug test but they cannot also expect to receive benefits paid for by others in return.