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Welfare: the conversation topic that can spark a heated and, oftentimes, passionate response. It’s one of those issues many are wary to bring up. With so many opinions and mixed feelings over the subject, most would rather find a different topic to discuss then take the chance of a casually conversation erupting into a passionate debate over the pros and cons of welfare. Yet, it is still one of the biggest problems in today’s economy.
“I think welfare is good, in theory,” Ashlyn Perry, a Bob Jones student, explained. “But the way some people use it renders it pointless.”
According to city-data.com, an estimated number of 4,300,000 Americans were on welfare for the year 2013. The total amount of government spending annual is around $131.9 billion. That doesn’t even include food stamps or unemployment.
“Hearing how much money is spent on welfare makes me angry,” Lauryn Rody, a senior at Bob Jones, confessed. “The Government is being very irresponsible with the money. They don’t even have a budget, and the U.S is already in debt.”
With the amount of cash that is invested in this program, it only makes since that people would want the money to be used in a responsible way. One of the biggest issues welfare faced is the question of how the public can be sure it is being used in the appropriate manner. Examples of people taking advantage of the system and of individuals going years living on welfare shed a negative light on a system meant to help out the unfortunate.
“In a way it does worry me. If people are unable to work due to medical reasons or some kind of disability I am all for helping them,” said Seth Medlen, a government teacher at Bob Jones High School. “However, it seems like the majority of people in our society today are looking for a handout. So that amount I am sure is high because people are working the system the government now has in place! A large amount of people quite simply truly expect something for nothing…”
An NPR article posted in December 2013 is possible one of the most extreme examples. When people hear the story of a woman that defrauded the government out of thousands of dollars, and then used that illegal money to help with more nefarious crimes such as kidnapping and murder, they are understandably wary.
One of the biggest issues many have is the concern that the money may be used to fund drug abuse. People questioned the right for a person to be on welfare if they frequently partook in drugs or were a known addict. Until recently, there wasn’t a way to alleviate the concerns of the public other than to trust that those on welfare were using it responsibly.
“I wish Alabama would require a drug test when applying for welfare. That way we know we aren’t giving out government funding for drug money,” Lauryn Rody said.
The National Conference of State Legislature, eight states, had the answer.
As of 2013, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah require welfare applicants to undergo a drug test. Some of the states’ legislature only allowed for a drug test to be required if there is reason to believe that the applicant is using illegal drugs or engaging in substance abuse. Other states required for all applicants to undergo a drug test.
“With the amount of people now on welfare in society, I do think it would be a great idea to require anyone anyone applying for welfare to take a drug test.” Medlen admitted.
Some people may believe that testing for drugs is unfair, but then that begs the question on why employers for jobs can require a drug test, but welfare can’t.
If the applicants have nothing to hide, then there should be no reason why the welfare administration office can’t require one. Is it fair that people working for a living have to submit to a test but those who live off of government funding don’t?
Of course, than you have to think about all the families that may be involved. Should the children of addicts be punished because of their parents’ actions? Welfare insures that the children are able to get food and essentials when their parent may be spending their meager paycheck to fuel their addiction. By denying a parent welfare because of a failed drug test, the children of those individuals are being affected too.
