Don't Mess With Texas

[maxiep]

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Drug-tests-for-unemployment-benefits-approved-208955991.html

Is anyone against this policy? It seems commonsense to me. I'd also be in favor of it for welfare as well.

 

[RR7]

I've seen people complain against this, but I don't get it. I'm all for it. Unemployment isn't meant as a job, it's a safety net to fall back into when you lose your job, and are looking for a new one. Considering there's a good amount of jobs that drug test before they hire, being on drugs and getting unemployment could be looked at as not trying your hardest to find a new job. I know there's a lot of jobs that don't, but by getting high, whatever, you're eliminating yourself from consideration for the ones that do.

 

[Denny Crane]

You'll have to read Krugman in the NYTimes to get the spin against this.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The changes approved Saturday would require laid-off workers to fill out state questionnaires. Answers considered suspicious would lead to drug tests.

Are you black or hispanic?

Drug Test!

 

[Denny Crane]

Can't stand in the way of free food, free housing, free education. Medical marijuana and free health care to pay for it.

What else can anyone ask for?

Free XBox, of course.

 

[MARIS61]

Unemployment benefits are a legal right for all legal workers in Texas and elsewhere. In reality, they are funded 100% by the workers as is every business expense in every legal business in America.

This will lead to successful lawsuits by the hundreds should it ever be enacted.

But that's Texas. A state with a combined legal IQ of 2. They murder innocent minorities by the dozens through their corrupt court system, they murder Presidents who rankle their oil honcho's feathers, and they supply leaders who commit war crimes in our country's name bringing the hate of the rest of the world down upon us.

Fuck 'em.

 

[Denny Crane]

Most of that is nonsense. They can change the terms of how the insurance works.

They probably can't get away with challenging people already on unemployment compensation before the change.

 

[MARIS61]

The only possible result through such a poorly thought-out attack on the poor will be a spike in the crime rate in Texas. People gotta feed their families and if you hatefully deny them the legal means to do so, you deserve to reap the results.

Drug testing as a requirement for employment is the biggest reason we have hordes of perfectly healthy, able-to-work people living off welfare. When drug testing goes away, your taxes will start being used for far more constructive purposes.

 

[maxiep]

The only possible result through such a poorly thought-out attack on the poor will be a spike in the crime rate in Texas. People gotta feed their families and if you hatefully deny them the legal means to do so, you deserve to reap the results.

Drug testing as a requirement for employment is the biggest reason we have hordes of perfectly healthy, able-to-work people living off welfare. When drug testing away, your taxes will start being used for far more constructive purposes.

MARIS, what would you say if someone on unemployment were offered a job, but had the offer rescinded because they failed a drug test? Their drug use in that case caused their continued reliance on unemployment insurance. The bottom line is that one person does not cover the cost of their insurance; it's a group liability. Because everyone with a job pays into it, those that receive it have a responsibility to get off the dole as soon as possible.

What America needs is a bit more shame in receiving government benefits.

 

[barfo]

Also, we should have drug testing to get a drivers license. And to vote. And to use a library, swim in the river, attend school, ride a bus, use any medical care, shop at the supermarket, ...

Once that's taken care of we'll implement the IQ requirements.

barfo

 

[Natebishop3]

Also, we should have drug testing to get a drivers license. And to vote. And to use a library, swim in the river, attend school, ride a bus, use any medical care, shop at the supermarket, ...

Once that's taken care of we'll implement the IQ requirements.

barfo

Slippery slope.... nice one barfo. That's one of my favorites.

 

[jlprk]

Unemployment insurance benefits are funded by unemployment tax. In lieu of payroll deduction subtracted from the employee's paycheck, the employer pays the government a percentage of the employee's pay. The employee pays it, in effect, by being paid less. When unemployed, he now deserves to be paid for his unemployment insurance.

If this kind of insurance gets a drug test, why not all kinds of insurance? When Denny and Maxiep die, their kids must pass drug tests. Otherwise the life insurance premiums paid for decades revert to the government. How about the same for their wills. How about alcohol? If either Denny or Maxiep fail the new surprise sobriety test on a Saturday night, he loses his job and his cumulative insurance of all kinds.

And how about the house? The government deserves your houses because you're too fat...

I can think of lots more.

 

[Denny Crane]

One of the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits is that you have to be fit to work.

 

[MARIS61]

One of the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits is that you have to be fit to work.

Exactly. And drug testing does not determine that.

Unless you're wasted out of your mind on lsd, meth, heroin, or downers, or drunk (which nobody tests for), you should have no trouble at all performing the duties of about 90% of all jobs currently available in America.

Anyone who smoked pot sometime in the last 30 days will fail the drug test despite quite possibly being the MOST fit for the job.

Drug testing is a big reason America is no longer known for ingenuity and creativeness. Many of the most brilliant minds are forbidden from contributing to society.

 

[Denny Crane]

Exactly. And drug testing does not determine that.

Actually it does determine that.

Maybe they should find all the people who'd test positive jobs driving oil tankers.

 

[MARIS61]

Actually it does determine that.

Seems like you're clueless about drug tests.

 

[Denny Crane]

Seems like you're clueless about drug tests.

I understand that some substances remain in the blood for a long time.

If you're in a state where pot is legal and you test positive for it, I don't see them doing anything about it.

Insurance is great. You can't buy fire insurance and expect to legitimately collect if you deliberately set fire to your house.

 

[Haakzilla]

...I suppose it really depends on your definition of "drugs" Do performance enhancing drugs count?!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I am on the fence on this. I was once completely 100% for drug testing for unemployment benefits. Even as much as last month.

But the more I think about the two sides, the various issues, etc and relate them to people I know....

It's a very slippery slope. I know people that smoke pot 1-2 times/week, only recreationally while chilling on the weekend, but maybe don't drink much. So they're denied benefits while those I know that are functioning yet drink heavily anywhere from 3-6 times/week would be okay? That doesn't seem right.

So say you ignore positive pot results.... I'd be okay with that. But the next person will argue that's a slippery slope for those that use various drugs (whether illicit or pharmaceutical, with or w/out a legal prescription) to treat a malady of disorders. It's a dangerous discussion. If nothing else, let the voters choose for themselves and their peers/citizens of their individual states/jurisdictions.

 

[Denny Crane]

I think the point is they're telling those collecting unemployment to clean up their act and get a job.

The worst things that happen to these people are they go long term unemployed and get a big hole in their resumes, and they eventually run out of benefits.

Of note is they defeated a bill to drug test people on welfare.

 

[Further]

I have never collected a penny of unemployment, have been continuously employed for 20 years. That being said, if I were tested, I would be positive right now. All the money I have put into the system, and I would be a great candidate to find another job, but if is law were enacted here I would not be able to receive unemployment should hard time come. That's crap. The law is too broad.

Also, application of the law is too manipulatable. As SPD pointed out, it could very easily be used to target blacks, Hispanics, women, or whatever group is being vilified at the moment.

Education. That is our best option to correct the ills.

 

[MARIS61]

Real Americans see billions upon billions of their tax dollars wasted to subsidize businesses, most of which perform at subpar levels and never wean themselves from their dependence on society.

This is the main source of unemployment.

Forget drug testing people who are eager and willing to work.

Simply let businesses start, grow or fail on the merits of their owners.

 

[speeds]

Why don't they just live off their severance package while they consider other job offers?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I guess it's more welfare I agree with testing. Unemployment, not so much.

I continue to further digest the situation, and that's where I am at this very moment.