The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Given the failed results so far, it's a wonder why states are continually pushing forth bills to require welfare applicants to pass drug tests in order to be eligible for such benefits. The state of Utah spent over $30,000 on these drug tests, and what did these tests reveal? Just 12 drug users. That was money well spent. In Florida, just 2% of welfare applicants tested positive for drugs in 2011, whereas approximately 8% of the state uses illegal drugs. This resulted in a net loss of money for the state. Virginia lawmakers rejected a proposed drug-testing program for welfare applicants because, while it would save an estimated $229,000, it would also cost $1.5 million. In other words, it wouldn't save any money at all. That brings us to Tennessee. The state started their drug-testing program in July. What have the results been to this point? Oh, let's see here - of 812 applicants, 1 has tested positive. In other words, 0.12% of applicants tested positive for drugs....

Ever since they suffered significant defeats in the 2012 election, the Republican Party has talked about "rebranding" themselves. This has been anything but successful, as for every one pro-women's or pro-minorities' rights speech they give, it seems as if they give four or five in the opposite direction. When I thought about the GOP and "rebranding" the other night, though, a thought occurred to me - the party has been quite successful with the concept of rebranding, just not when it comes to their party's image. No, the kind of rebranding I'm talking about is in reference to words. Let me run down a list of the words or concepts the GOP has seemed to successfully rebrand over the years (unfortunately): Liberal Actual definition: "Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties," "favoring or permitting freed...

Not too long ago, Republican Florida Representative Trey Radel voted in favor of drug-testing food-stamp recipients. In an ironic turn of events, Representative Radel then got busted for cocaine possession. It's a wonder if Mr. Radel and his ilk would vote in favor of a bill which would require politicians to be drug-tested before receiving their "hard-earned" paychecks... http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/11/before-his-cocaine-bust-us-rep-trey-radel-voted-to-drug-test-food-stamp-recipients.html

Not long ago, I read this email chain letter via a Facebook post: "WRITTEN BY A 21 YEAR OLD FEMALE. PUT ME IN CHARGE . . . Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job. Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, or smoke, then get a job. Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your home will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place. In addition, you will eit...

The mantra makers vs. takers has been increasing in its usage and effectiveness in recent years. The image of a person on welfare has gone from that of a single mother working multiple low-paying jobs and still not being able to fully support she and her kids to one of a person laying on the couch, watching game-shows, while smoking weed. This image distortion has led to states either pursuing or successfully proposing and enacting laws to drug-test people on welfare. They claimed that this distorted image of those on welfare was an accurate one, that we'd prevent many drug users from receiving our taxpayer money, and would save a great deal of money in the process. Upon further inspection, these claims and predictions haven't rung true. Florida was the first state to enact such a law. How is it doing? Not great... Before Judge Mary S. Scriven of the Federal District Court decried the law as being unconstitutional, 4,086 such drug-tests were documented. Of those 4,086 potenti...

Upon going to a bar last night, I overheard some people talking about the "Obamaphone" - a program they claimed had started under President Obama - which provides free cell phones to low-income Americans via taxpayer money. I had merely heard about this through the grapevine and while my BS radar was going off upon haring about it, I still hadn't researched the matter greatly. I decided to stay quiet last night until I researched the matter further and decided to finally do that this afternoon. So, what's the real story? As my gut instinct told me, it's nonsense. Courtesy of the fact-checking site, Factcheck.org , the following was reported: "Q: Has the Obama administration started a program to use 'taxpayer money' to give free cell phones to welfare recipients? A: No. Low-income households have been eligible for discounted telephone service for more than a decade. But the program is funded by telecom companies, not by taxes, and the president...