How could children possibly benefit from this? Most parents applying for assistance probably do not know that if they are "thought" to be abusing drugs they will have to pass a drug test to get the assistance. Better not show up wearing that Bob Marley shirt or listening to Cypress Hill in your ipod.

Dan Linn
Executive Director Illinois NORML
www.illinoisNORML.org

As a libertarian I find that welfare and the drug war have a lot in common. Both are attempts at "good" big government. Both involve significant coercion, government use of force, and loss of freedom.

They are two sides of the same coin. Using the government to solve social problems is not the work of a limited government. My argument against big government is not a subjective determination of what programs are "good" and what are "bad".

To accept that the government should provide income for certain populations means that you accept the government can tell those people how to live. Frankly I'm suprised all welfare candidates are not drug tested after years of GOP control.

This is where a divide exists in the anti drug war movement. Libertarians believe all big government is bad, ergo the War on Drugs will always be a tragic disaster. Liberals focus on the effect on certain populations and loss of civil liberties.

Unless you have been on both sides, you cannot understand, how a person feels. When you are using drugs, you already have low self esteem and feel hopeless. Now to go and ask for help because for whatever reason you cannot finacially take care of yourself and your family, and you have to take a drug test, is degrading to a human being. Some people take care of their families and their home even though they have a problem. But when you make some one get help and tell them they have to stop doing whatever it is they are doing, most of the time it does not work! A person has to want to stop using, and ask for help on their own. So what are they gonna do to the people that occasionally have a drink at dinner time, what? they are alcoholics. So they have to go into a program in order to put food on the table. Also, those test come out false positive lots of times. I am speaking from an incident that happen to me. I am presently in a Drug Treatment Program, have not used as of March 2006. Then in 2007 I had 3 false positive's of alcohol, in 2 months time, so automatically I was told I was using. I am NOT a drinker, and most close friends & family know I dont drink. But they did not care, and it was the worst feeling you could feel, especially when you know you have learned and worked so hard to stay clean & sober, and just like that! You can loose awole lot. So what will happen to those people that happen to have false positive results, they will lose their benefits, and then be put out in the streets, not be able to pay their bills, or most of all feed their children. What then?? From a Recovering Addict and Single Mom, Far Rockaway, NY

First the abusive driving fees,
Then the salvia ban,
and now this??
Watch out Virgina, Irina is coming back to straighten you out.

"But I have a few questions. Who's going to intervene when a mother of four gets a false positive and suddenly can't feed her family?"

I can sorta hear the Libertarians pounce on this liberal viewpoint - perhaps adding that this "who" is definitely not the goverment. They may be right, but one of the things my country, Denmark, seemed to figure out at some point is that people do not, in fact, lie down politely and accept the demise of themselves and/or their children or spouses.

When humans go down, they go down fighting. When humans hunger they will, should they possess a gun, use said gun to rob those HAVING food in order to not die.

Deny these people sustenance and even a good life - be the reason moral ("welfare recipients are scum and deserve to die") or ideological ("it is an absolute evil to let government feed people like this") - and they may well cause more problems that are much more expensive to both you and everyone else than if you'd paid them off with education - or even just food.

Wouldn't anyone being served their slow death sentence make haste to learn to deal drugs or rob the wealthier?

Since I have received most all that welfare has to offer, I say Test us!!! I have been drug tested at almost every job I have ever applied for...down to hair follicle tests. Never have I ever had a 'false positive' come from any of these tests. I am applying for assistance while I continue to go to school and complete my education while I work...test away. There is an active "War on Drugs" going on and will continue to go on forever, this is just another stepping stone in order to fight and regulate where and what drug addicts are accepted to go and get. Just like most do not want alcoholics or addicts on a job site or renting from them, why should the welfare system be any different?

I have seen with the previous blogs that the concern is for the children, seriously? That is a double edge sword. That argument died the moment it was said. The concern IS for the children. If ,in fact, there are children involved in a drug or alcohlic situation, it is likely a viscious cycle that needs rehabiltation, not aiding and abedding.

True, in the end it is the choice of the person that is the addict. Do we as taxpayers and people that are truely using these funds to try and build ourselves, our lifestyles and our children up to become active and involved members of the community need to sit by and watch while the irresponsible keep cycling through making it harder and harder for those that are actually using these government funded systems for what they are actually for? The round and round cycle could be stopped with a test, you want assistance? Dont do drugs. You need a job? Dont do drugs. You want to better your life? Dont do drugs. Make it better for all involved, it is not so hard.

The payday loan industry has been the key target for corrupt politicians, from all sides, seeking an increase in voter support at the expense of what’s best for the general public. Governors of several states including, Georgia, North Carolina, and Oregon completely drove payday loan businesses out of their states. The negative effects of driving out payday loan companies from these states, appears to have not been the best idea for its’ citizens. For instance, in Georgia, the bankruptcy filings, bounced checks and foreclosures all grew overwhelmingly after the cash advance option was taken away from them. In spite of this downbeat information, following the closure of payday loans in these states, several other governors continue to try and follow suit. Leading national politicians, such as presidential hopeful Barack Obama, are now making it their mission to eliminate the industry completely once and for all. Should such efforts be judged successful, the possibility is very real for increased unemployment rates, more debt, more foreclosures and an even more crippled economy.

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The probability of payday advance companies burning up in flames would make the Arizona Credit Union System very happy. Yet, their opinion is only marked by means of their own preference. The credit union is taking the next big step to wipe out the competition and draw all the former cash advance customers into their grip. In an E-mail campaign which is estimated to reach about 1.6 million credit union customers, System will encourage voters to reject Proposition 200. In contrast, organizations such as the Arizona Community Financial Services Association are supported by Prop. 200 that claim that the Proposition will eliminate extensions by introducing flexible payment plans, lower state loan fees, and will not only regulate Internet lending, but control the number of walk-in stores in Arizona. This resolution will help payday loan customers and keep industry employees away from the unemployment binge. No one wants to lose their jobs, particularly in our current economy.
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