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I Detest People Who Judge Those On Welfare

The Australian Government is about to start a trial for drug testing Welfare recipients.
They called for public submissions on the proposal.
52 organisations responded. Of those 52 submissions, 52 opposed the drug testing of Welfare recipients.
Those of you who say this is a good idea, think about this.
When a celebrity or sport star has a drug addiction problem, what is societies response?
Mostly it is sympathy, they end up surrounded by people of goodwill offering them all the help they need to overcome their addiction.
It is classed as a health issue and people want them to get better and return to normality.
But if you come from a disadvantaged background and you have a drug addiction then you are a loser, a deadbeat, a bludger who deserves no sympathy
The hypocrisy of society appalls me.
If a welfare recipient tests positive to any kind of illegal drug they will be placed on income management for 2 years.
I wrote a letter to the editor regarding this proposal,

- It is interesting to note that Canberra(Australian Capital and where Parliament sits) is third on the list of the nations States and Territories when it comes to the consumption of Cocaine.
It is also interesting to remember that only 3 of 128 Victorian Politicians volunteered to be drug tested when asked to set a precedent.
When Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews spoke about introducing random breath testing at State Parliament, several members stated they plan to defy the order, describing it as bizarre, ridiculous and offensive.
All public servants should by randomly tested. Yet legal experts state that this is an invasion of privacy because what a person does outside of business hours is their business.
Police take the zero tolerance stance, if it is in your system them you are impaired.
The Federal Government is targeting highly vulnerable people with the drug testing while hypocritically saying, "I am untouchable because I am a Politician"

Several years ago a reporter surreptitiously swabbed many rest rooms of Lawyers, Doctors, the Judicial Courts and many other High Flyers in Perth. These rest rooms were not for public use. The public had no access to them.
Every one of those rest rooms returned positive drug readings, from Cocaine, Heroin and all the others.
There was one five line article in the paper then it was never reported again.
As stated, the Hypocrisy of society appalls me.
Rant over.
SW-User
I think Arizona here in the states tried this, it cost them something like 1.4 million dollars to set up the program.
after a year they had removed TWO people from state assistance. Two!
saved the state less than twenty thousand dollars...
Gusman · 61-69, M
@SW-User It is simply another way to marginalise those down and outs. It is showing the public that " At least we are trying to save the public money"
It is pitting one group of people against another. Everything about this plan is wrong if they do not subject themselves to the same regime. But Pollies are untouchable
SW-User
@Gusman
politicians should be held to the highest level of accountability, not the lowest..
it's [i]they[/i] who have the privilege of public trust. too many seem to believe that we're privileged to have them in office.. that needs to change.
Gusman · 61-69, M
@SW-User That needs to change. But we both know that nothing will happen. The Politicians will continue to fleece the public with all their perks, allowances and entitlements. The public are apathetic and do not even attempt to raise a stink.
They say, "What can I do"?
Stand up and fight is what I say. Have a go. If every one had a go then things will change.
But as Pollies know, if you keep the community divided, by pitting certain groups against each other, as this policy does, then they will never unite to overthrow the common enemy, Bureaucrats will rule and laud it over the masses.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
Ynotisay · M
@geoam1 Drug testing welfare recipients might make sense to some on paper but it's been shown to be a total waste of state money. Six or seven states tried doing it but the positive tests were like 1%.
luckranger71 · 51-55, M
@Ynotisay Correct. Because the enforcement infrastructure costs way more than the people they nab. It’s easy to pick on welfare recipients as the cause of “waste” in government, but it’s literally pennies compared to waste on weapons systems, corporate welfare etc.
Ynotisay · M
@luckranger71 Yep. And I'm sure we could both tick off quite a few "groups" that are demonized for draining resources when the real problem goes unquestioned. Trump is asking Congress to cancel $15 Billion in unspent government funds. $7 billion of that is for child insurance services.
How do these fucking people look at themselves in the mirror?
lasergraph · 70-79, M
I don't think celebrities deserve any kind of free pass on drug addictions. The main difference between a celebrity on drugs and a welfare recipient on drugs is that the celebrities are paying for the drugs with THEIR money and a welfare recipient is using YOURS. I am in the US and a lot of major corporations here drug test employees. It is up to the company as to whether they want to pay for the test. As far as how they are treated, there should be no difference. It is a horrible thing. I had a nephew who was addicted but is clean for now. It destroys lives.
snowbelt · 61-69, M
When drug testing of welfare recipients has been tried in the US, it has failed miserably. Very few recipients tested positive--not enough to even justify the cost of the programs. It is a bad idea and for the wrong reasons.
Kevin19 · 22-25, M
To be fair celebrities and athletes with drug problems are actually considered losers by most people as well.
Gusman · 61-69, M
@Kevin19 But they get all the help they need.They get showered with love from a huge part of society. The media praises them for seeking help etc.
Ynotisay · M
Out of curiosity, which drugs are causing the biggest problems when it comes to addiction in Australia?
Gusman · 61-69, M
@Ynotisay Sorry for the late reply. Just finished a 12 hour shift.
Ice is the number one problem here.
People are going off their heads. The hospitals are dealing with ice affected patients every day who totally lose control. Lashing out at everyone. Those affected are a real danger to everyone around them. Security staff are always present in hospitals now because of the violence of these people.
A real problem.
Cocaine use is extremely high amongst the affluent. Which is why I detest the proposal to drug test welfare recipients.
When police do road side drug testing, they do not test for Cocaine because they know that so many "Affluent " people use it, they have been told not to test for it. Can't have a Judge testing positive to illegal drug use.
Ecstasy is on the way out.
Cannabis use is high in the over 40's. They simply want to shut the world out.
Ynotisay · M
@Gusman Thanks for that. As an American we don't hear much about drug problems in Australia. Ice is bad. It dug it's claws in to Hawaii and was devastating. Even worse than meth which is a real problem here too.
There was a drug prevention program in the 80's under Reagan that used the phrase "Just Say No." A really simplistic message that doesn't carry any weight. EXCEPT when it comes to things like ice and crack. That's one you don't do once. Poor people are always going to be susceptible because they feel they just don't have much to lose. Gotta' treat the cause and not the symptom. Thanks again for the insight
lingerielover · 70-79, M
That's very well written Gusman, and as a fellow Aussie I totally agree with you
Gusman · 61-69, M
@lingerielover Thank you.
It really sickens my heart when vulnerable Aussies are set upon by Governments and the bigots in this great country of ours.😞
Pick on those who can not defend themselves. Imagine being in this situation?
Unemployed, with an addiction of what ever kind.The Government says we are going to stop your access to cash.
I would be suicidal in such a situation. sickens me. And many aussies say, yes, this is a good thing because they are only dole bludgers.
Hypocrites. Every one of them.

 
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