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Debate Info

12
16
Test before check Government check without drug
Debate Score:28
Arguments:26
Total Votes:29
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Argument Ratio

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 Test before check (12)
 
 Government check without drug (13)

Debate Creator

myclob(437) pic



People should have to pass drug test to get government assistance

Reasons to agree

  1. I have to pass a drug test to work. I hate work. I wish I could get money for doing nothing. If I have to pass a drug test, to have the honor of working, people should have to pass a drug test, if they want free money.
  2. Like a lot of folks in this state I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test, with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass. Could you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check????? 
  3. You could save money, by giving random drug test, once a year.
  4. It doesn't cost that much money to give drug test.
  5. People who REALLY need help, will stop drugs. This will help their life.  

 

Reasons to disagree

  1. It cost money to give drug test.

That's all I got... Did I miss anything?

Test before check

Side Score: 12
VS.

Government check without drug

Side Score: 16
1 point

In Japan, they have a major anti-drug policy and that negated their crime rates to less than three percent of America's! Drugs are a huge deal and the problems is causes are endless... the government should crack down harder on druggies because it's stupid to waste money on people who sit around doing nothing but waiting for the welfare check to arrive in the mail so they can get their next fix. I don't think it should be very sudden though; a lot of drug addicts now could use help and a couple are definitely innocent (and stupid) victims. I think they should ease into the law gradually, by forcing bigger fines for drug dealers, having a huge anti-drug campaign; fining drug addicts themselves...

Side: Test before check
Bohemian(3860) Disputed
1 point

the government should crack down harder on druggies

For over 50 years the government has been cracking down on drugs and it hasn't done an ounce of good. Why do people insist on perpetuating policies which clearly do not work?

Implementing a mandatory drug tests costs money, about $35 per person, and there are roughly 30 million Americans on some sort of welfare. That's over 1 billion in tax dollars. It would be a colossal waste of money. And what exactly does it accomplish? It means some person won't be able to pay their rent or grocery bill just because they like getting high.

I KNOW we can find better things to do with 1 billion dollars than preventing stoners from paying rent. This is the epitome of idiocy. I'm not concerned with what someone puts in their own body and I don't think the Government should be either.

Side: Government check without drug
0 points

If welfare is subsidizing stoner's drug habits then it isn't helping anybody and is already a colossal waist of money. Think how much the government could save if it wasn't giving money to people who spent it on drugs, billions.

Side: Test before check

As a purely academic question, the answer is Heck yes! As a practicality the idea is a huge FAIL. It would be nice to expect some personal responsibility in those who are living off of those in society who are working and paying the bills, but there is no constitutional or fair way to do that.

Side: Test before check
3 points

Reasons to Disagree:

1. It's unconstitutional. If the government does not have good reason to believe that an individual has taken an illegal drug, this would constitute an unreasonable search.

2. Implementing a mandatory drug tests costs money, about $35 per person, and there are roughly 30 million Americans on some sort of welfare. That's over 1 billion in tax dollars. I KNOW we can find better things to do with 1 billion dollars than preventing stoners from paying rent.

3. It would increase poverty, due to those who failed the test or decided not to take it as a result of the Drug testing. All the social problems associated with poverty, such as crime, would also increase.

4. What someone puts into their own body should be their business and their business alone.

Side: Government check without drug
1 point

I find what you say somewhat true, but we're talking about people who want government assistance.

If you want a license, you must provide personal information. The people who want government assistance may be willing to give up their personal freedom in the case of drug testing. After all, they could just NOT receive government assistance if they find drug use more important.

Don't get me wrong, I am for complete legalization. But in the current state we're in, the government finds that illegal activity should take away any right to welfare and such.

Side: Government check without drug
Bohemian(3860) Clarified
1 point

This is True, but if someone really needs welfare then they don't really have much of a choice, either they get thrown onto the streets to struggle with hunger or the government assumes they're a criminal by drug testing them without probable cause. This also has repercussions for the rest of society in terms of cost in implementing these drug tests, and in poverty should this person fail the test or not try at all. If someone's life is so ruined by drug addiction that they need welfare but can't pass a simple test even when they know in advanced when it's going to be, this person needs medical help, not to have their income taken away, that only makes things worse.

Side: Test before check
BenWalters(1513) Disputed
1 point

A license, a job, any of these things that you need to show that you haven't broken the law, it's all for something more than you need. If you don't get a job, you get benefits. What do you do if you can't get benefits?

The government has to accept that some people will break the law, and they still need help. It would go against the very idea of benefits, that everyone is deserving of some form of last resort support. It's not going to happen, even with most governments stance on drugs.

Side: Test before check
raptor22(106) Disputed
1 point

Its not unconstitutional. The government does have a good reason to believe the person has taken an illegal drug. The only people who are required to take the test are those who lost their job because of failing or refusing to take a drug test, and are now on welfare.

"It would increase poverty, due to those who failed the test or decided not to take it as a result of the Drug testing. All the social problems associated with poverty, such as crime, would also increase.”

It could increase poverty, but it could decrease the amount of people on illegal drugs, and crimes associated with drugs could also be alleviated.

"Implementing a mandatory drug tests costs money, about $35 per person, and there are roughly 30 million Americans on some sort of welfare. That's over 1 billion in tax dollars. I KNOW we can find better things to do with 1 billion dollars than preventing stoners from paying rent.”

This will stop tax payers from paying for drugs. What i mean is, people on drugs are using food stamps so they can have both drugs and food, allowing tax payers to effectively pay for their drugs. Stoping people from having welfare while on drugs can help stop tax payers from doing this accidentally.

“What someone puts into their own body should be their business and their business alone.”

not if its illegal

Side: Test before check

This would not help those that need help. Through the death penalty, for example, there have been studies that show that such an extreme punishment does little to prevent the crimes being committed. This would give a similar effect.

Despite people knowing that they would not get benefits, they would continue to do drugs. And then you would have tens of thousands of people with no job and no benefits, hardly what anyone wants.

The way to reduce the drug culture anywhere is through cutting off supply, social changes, and support for those who wish to get off drugs, as three main parts, there are obviously more.

I live in a country where the use of any drugs can get your deported, dealing can get you tortured, and yet people continue to do so. Punishment is not the way to solve a problem, you have to get to the root of it.

Side: Government check without drug

The easiest way is just eliminate government assistance, the assistance is the reason for poverty. It is called dependency, not only on drugs, but the free money.

Side: Government check without drug
Bohemian(3860) Disputed
1 point

the assistance is the reason for poverty

And poverty that existed before welfare programs?

Side: Test before check
1 point

And poverty that existed before welfare programs?

Nonexistence of modern economies of specialization in labor.

Side: Government check without drug