The Canton Solution to Welfare: Drug test 'em sterillize 'em, and throw 'em out on the streets

Welcome to the wonderful world of Rep Comments where the inmates run the asylum. (left: nearby old Massillon State Hospital).

As an introduction to the hell that has become the Rep, here's a sample of what we're talking about. On March 28, 2009, the Rep published States considering drug tests for welfare recipients:

The effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse.

Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents’ health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don’t get something for nothing.

“Nobody’s being forced into these assistance programs,” said Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Virginia Legislature who has created a Web site — notwithmytaxdollars.com — that bears a bobble-headed likeness of himself advocating this position. “If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?”

Blair is proposing the most comprehensive measure in the country, as it would apply to anyone applying for food stamps, unemployment compensation or the federal programs usually known as “welfare”: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Women, Infants and Children.

Now anyone who has read the Rep for more than three days knows exactly what the reaction will be and who the reactors are. There are way too many replies (and still growing) to include them all, but here's a sample. Be warned though, that this sample is somewhat tame. We don't want to scare away first-time readers just getting their feet wet in the Rep whirlpool.

stevie123
it is about time! maybe nicotine testing too, since the smokers taxes have gone up to pay for childrens health care of the people of lower income. they do drug testing all of the time on the people working, why not? make sure they are random since alot of them know how to 'test clean'. our own jobs are at risk now so if we need assistance we would have to play by the same rules. go to the article about taxing cigarettes, the non smokers tell the smokers 'we will have a longer living healthier population.'

PMIKUSA
Its about time the state wised up, There are to many people abusing the system i have seen it first hand they live better than i do new cars fur coats dressed well i work my BUT off and still cant get ahead .

Marie60
I agree that drug testing should be done on welfare and food stamp recipients. While you're at it, why not make the unwed mother name and contact the father of her newborn so paternity testing can be done. That way the unwed mother requesting gov't assistance must prove who the father of her child(ren) is and that man can (if able) support his kids instead of taxpayers. Intentionally keeping the father's name off the birth certificate equals NO gov't assistance.

bbj

Marie60 - great idea about naming the father. Gojojogo - if the parents are already doing drugs, then some/most of their money is already going towards that and not the kids. Take the kids away. They should not be raised in a drug infested environment anyways. And yes, RANDOM, unannounced testing is the only way this would work.

Drug testing for families receiving welfare is a wonderful idea. I repeat families mom, dad, brother, sister everyone list as the recipient of the welfare support.
Lets also take the same steps to those receiving unemployment checks.
Drug free society means everyone.
While youre at it also investigate who living in the government support housing of those welfare recipient.

NOW THIS IS THE CHANGE WE ALL CAN BELIEVE IN

fourjohns
Test them ? YES
Lifetime loss of benifits if possitive? YES
Loss of medical license for doctors who sign false disability claims? YES
Manditory sterilization for welfare moms after 2nd child ?YES
Chemically induced castration for all felons , and all gulty of non-payment of child support ?YES
No life sentences, only execution for murderers, rapists, molesters, assult ? YES
AND I THNK TO MYSELF....WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

I don't see anything wrong with random drug testing. Unless you have something to hide, what does it really matter? This isn't a matter of profiling or labeling, it just makes sense.

Just call me CLH

@theame19... where will the money for all of this drug testing come from, you ask?? Simple: It will come from the thousands that are thrown OFF assistance because they tested positive for drugs. The use of paternity testing, you ask? Simple: If even a portion of the people who are not presently supporting their children are made to step up and pay, then the program works. No woman should be allowed to be on public assistance and NOT have to name the father of her baby. PERIOD. If she can't name the father and has no means to support the child, then that child should be given up for adoption to a family that can't have children. This child should be allowed to be adopted AS A BABY, because there are millions of families that would take a baby instead of a toddler.

Liberals!! What are they thinking??? Those of us who aren't liberals and who are paying for this mess WILL find a way to pay for a better way! Random drug testing IS A BETTER WAY!!!!