Drug Testing For Welfare

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As a citizen of the United States, I believe people in this country that are unable to provide for themselves should be taken care of by the government. However, I do not believe the government is using the welfare program in the right way. From drug testing to the amount of money people receive, the program needs to change. I strongly believe that people out of work should be looking vigorously for jobs, and should not use the U.S. government as a permanent source of income. Social welfare programs are programs designed to help people who are in poverty or in need of a temporary source of income while searching for a new job. President Lyndon B. Johnson began the “unconditional war on poverty” in 1964 at a State of the Union Address (Tanner). …show more content…

More than half of the states are considering drug-test requirements for people on welfare. Not only would this help save money in the welfare program, it would also allow the government to get help for drug users on public assistance. The tests could either be urine based, or written tests that could help flag down drug users (Grovum). According to Jake Grovum’s article “Some States Still Pushing Drug Testing for Welfare”, Alabama may have come up with the most sensible law. The law, which has passed in their state senate, states that anyone who has been convicted of a drug offense in the last five years must undergo, and pay for, a drug test as a part of their welfare application. I am aware that not all people on welfare are using drugs and many former drug users get the help they need and get off their addiction, but I think taxpayers in the U.S. have the right of knowing their hard earned money is going to the right …show more content…

The hunger problems in the United States are often exaggerated. We often see news stories of children going hungry or starving kids out on the street. I am not saying those problems do not exists, I am saying they are not as common as the media portrays them to be. There are 50 million Americans classified in poverty, yet only 4% percent of American parents say their children are ever hungry. I firmly believe that no child should go hungry, but 4% is a very small percentage, considering a record high 46 million Americans (1 in every 7 citizens) are receiving food stamps (Kozak). I am aware many families need the support of food stamps to help keep food on the table for their children. I am not convinced, however, that 1 in every 7 citizens need this help. I believe the government could do a much better job of investigating families or making requirements a little tighter to make sure only the people that need these benefits may receive

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