Forbes: Fla. welfare applicants less likely to use drugs

[Scuba]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/28/business-us-welfare-drug-testing_8704912.html


..snip..

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Preliminary figures on a new Florida law requiring drug tests for welfare applicants show that they are less likely than other people to use drugs, not more. One famous Floridian suggests that it's the people who came up with the law who should be submitting specimens.

Columnist and best-selling author Carl Hiaasen offered to pay for drug testing for all 160 members of the Florida Legislature in what he called "a patriotic whiz-fest." Several of the law's supporters say they're on board.

..end..

[liberal N proud]

1. Another right wing myth busted

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. Fight drug abuse -- fire everybody!

[raccoon]

2. Carl Hiaasen rocks. rec'd. nt

[DirkGently]

3. $170 million or so to test, a few thousand in withheld benefits. So "pragmatic," the rightwing.

[Scuba]

5. Well, remember who owns the testing labs. n/t

[DirkGently]

9. With Scott involved, you've got to assume clinics fleecing taxpayers is one goal.

[AndyTiedye]

4. Makes Perfect Sense

And of those who do test positive, I expect a significant portion are self-medicating for stuff because they can't afford to go to a doctor.
Illegal drugs are expensive, but real health care is even more so these days.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. If they had simply thought it through, they needn't have gone to the expense

of a study.

Drugs cost money. People on welfare have very little money. Ergo, People on welfare spend less on drugs than do people who have incomes.

EDIT:

Any idea why my post would show up in the thread, but not show up as posted in "My DU"? Got an "error in processing" msg. What does that mean?

[Scuba]

8. I get that once in a while too. Waiting for DU 3. n/t