Walker asks Trump to allow Wisconsin to drug test food stamp recipients

With all due respect, conservatives who support this aren’t thinking very far ahead. Once the precedent has been set that the government can require recipients of government programs to waive their constitutional rights—in this case, Fourth Amendment rights—there’s no telling where this thing will go. They could require, for example, people to waive their Second Amendment rights to have their children in the public schools. Don’t like it? Don’t use the schools. For that matter, the sidewalks are owned by the government, too. Lets just ban gun possession there. After all, all you have to do to keep your rights intact is not use the sidewalk.

And while we’re at it, let’s test granny on Social Security. It’s true that she payed into the SS fund, but most people on NA have jobs and pay taxes too—they qualify because their jobs don’t pay enough to live on. Money is fungible and the fact that the money NA users pay into the general fund isn’t earmarked for that specific purpose like OASDI is means nothing.

Just a few thoughts.

But dumb ones.

Calling people "dumb" does not negate their arguments.

All government monetary handouts have strings attached

And if those strings require a waiver of constitutional rights, then they themselves are unconstitutional.

Remember when Obongo was going to strip gun rights from users of SSI/SSDI? Conservatives rightfully howled bloody murder, because people were given the choice between either giving up using a program that their taxes paid for or giving up their 2A rights. Remember that two can play at this game. Now are you really sure you want to go here? You remind me not a little of William Roper in A Man for All Seasons.

We shouldn't be subsidizing drug abuse, laziness, domestic violence and poverty. We shouldn't be penalizing work.

The wisdom of handing out nutrition assistance per se is an entirely different subject from the under under discussion. But for as long as the government does hand it out, it cannot requite a waiver of constitutional rights to receive it.

Calling people "dumb" does not negate their arguments.

I didn't call people dumb. I called the argument dumb.

And if those strings require a waiver of constitutional rights, then they themselves are unconstitutional.

The parasites aren't forced to take the free stuff, and there is no Constitutional right to consume controlled substances.

That isn't even close to being a credible analogy. Gun ownership IS a Constitutional right.

as long as the government does hand it out, it cannot requite a waiver of constitutional rights to receive it.

Here's a better analogy. Food stamps are a privilege not a right, as is legally driving a car. According to you, the cops should not be allowed to test you for alcohol if they stop you.

as long as the government does hand it out

Then here's the easy answer to make you happy: They should not "hand it out".

Death to food stamps.

(by the way, several times, you forgot to capitalize "Constitutional")

The parasites aren't forced to take the free stuff,

Parasites? The majority work and pay taxes. Also, you are not forced to use the public schools. As a person who has no children, I feel that people who use the public schools are parasites. I did the responsible thing and didn't have children I couldn't afford to educate. I'm tired of them riding free on my tax dollars! Let's drug test those parasites, already!

See how that works?

and there is no Constitutional right to consume controlled substances.

No, but there is a right to be free from unreasonable searches--and searches based on no individualized suspicion are unconstitutional.

That isn't even close to being a credible analogy. Gun ownership IS a Constitutional right.

And being free from unreasonable searches IS a constitutional right.

Here's a better analogy. Food stamps are a privilege not a right, as is legally driving a car.

But being free from unreasonable searches is a RIGHT

According to you, the cops should not be allowed to test you for alcohol if they stop you.

Straw man. I believe that cops should be able to do so, provided there is some individualized suspicion.--and blanket drug testing dispenses with individualized suspicion. I also have no problem with testing SNAP recipients based on individualized suspicion--we already do that here in Arizona.

Then here's the easy answer to make you happy: They should not "hand it out".

Fair enough. But that is not the subject of this discussion.

children I couldn't afford to educate. I'm tired of them riding free on my tax dollars! Let's drug test those parasites, already!

Absolutely, the kids especially. I highly suspect they are stoned, maybe on purpose by the school. And also the teachers, they shouldn't be riding the gravy train high as a kite, in charge of the little darlings.

searches based on no individualized suspicion are unconstitutional.

Oh, I suspect them alright...pegging the meter. We are absolutely feeding drug dealers, who find some easy mark bimbo, get her pregnant, keep her in pot/meth/heroin, move in to her section 8 rent, eat her food stamp goodies, beat her kids, and when she gets fat and starts yelling....move on to the next cutie.

If you don't know that...clue up.

free from unreasonable searches IS a constitutional right.

You make it sound like the Federal Marshalls and FBI are going to do this, on a random basis. (Constitution is capitalized)

I don't even see why the Governor needs to ask the President for permission. It should be a state issue.

blanket drug testing dispenses with individualized suspicion. I also have no problem with testing SNAP recipients based on individualized suspicion--we already do that here in Arizona.

If they're not disabled or retarded why aren't they working? I'd be suspicious right there.

No able bodied person should receive any "assistance" compensation, without being required to perform some type of "public" service. One of the conditions for that "employment" should be drug testing, just like in the private sector. Otherwise...take-off eh, go flip burgers.

But that is not the subject of this discussion.

"Food stamps" need to be re-stigmatized. Get rid of the cards, and have a special section of the store, or a building where the recipients go to get their government food.

Any remaining "food stamps" authorized for use in a grocery store should be the size of road maps and need to be unfolded and signed on the spot, with proper ID and an intercom call to the store manager for his initials.

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