They tried that in Florida, I think. The cost to administrator the tests far outweighed the saving from catching the very small number of people who didn't pass.
Florida is one of 15 states with laws that allow drug testing for welfare under various conditions. I think they stopped because, like you said, cost to administer was more than saved. Stats vary from state to state but the rate of positive is generally much less than 1% (and that’s even if you count people who refused to test as positive).
And really... whhhhy? You have to pass a piss test to work to (supposedly) make sure you’re stable to hire- which is arguable itself in many jobs etc-but let’s stay on topic. So... if you’re on welfare... 1. You aren’t being asked to interact with customers or operate heavy machinery or do corporate taxes. 2. You probably don’t have a job or you have a job that doesn’t pay enough to NOT QUALIFY FOR WELFARE. Either way: what’s the point of a piss test for welfare?
Basically some people believe that anyone on welfare is a lazy ass imigrant that abuses the system to sit at home taking drugs and getting drunk while honest hardworking people are forced to pay for them.
Of course the fact that statistically the amount of people on welfare doing that are negligible and it costs more to test people that it saves. But hey, facts don't matter if you ignore them to push your opinion.
That’s the lie we tell ourselves. Barring those with mental issues- a great number of people on welfare or assistance or homeless are people just like anyone else- or they were- until one too many things went wrong. The truth is that people have far less control than they think in life- and way more than most people want to admit of their “personal achievements” hinge on circumstances external to themselves. So it’s comforting to many to believe that those who have it bad- generally do so because of something wrong about them- that somehow they did it to themselves or deserve it. It also males it much easier for an otherwise “good person” to enjoy the excesses of life available to them while others suffer. “I earned this gravy- but that person couldn’t even earn a potato, so why should I give up my extra so they can have the minimum?”
It’s very convenient to believe that the lazy, immoral, those who refuse to just “do the basic things” are the ones in need of help because then we don’t have to feel bad for not helping. “Why give the person who let drugs destroy their lives more money for drugs?” But here’s a thought- perhaps they never used drugs until things went bad. Perhaps- like many homeless- drugs are an escape and a way to deal with the constant stress and boredom? If welfare pays $1200 a month and you can barely survive- and a job that pays $900 will cost you your benefits- and to get them back if you’re fired etc can take years on a waiting list- how does that pencil out?
Some people abuse welfare and aid. The percentages are statistically very small. So small that we should t concern ourselves so much with that aspect and instead should focus on welfare reforms to get the correct, timely aid to people in need- to retool the system to better prevent those at risk from hitting “rock bottom” where the money and time to put a life back together is far greater than timely intervention to stop it from falling apart- and to prioritize giving people the tools to be self sufficient.
Those on generational welfare often lack resources at home to teach fiscal responsibility, to teach organization and supply opportunities to grow or the framework by which to lay a foundation to fit in to a social group beyond that of their peers. And crime statistics strangely often follow income- so it isn’t all charity or humanitarianism. There is a real benefit to society as a whole when people see they have avenues other than crime to achieve their goals- when they feel they have a chance to enter mainstream society and be more than a wage slave.
People say “well why don’t I quit my job so I can get a free house too?” Why don’t you? The fact that you don’t tells you something. It isn’t some preachy speech that you were “raised with self respect” or your “work ethic won’t allow it.” If you were so high and mighty you wouldn’t ask the question would you? It’s that for all the talk about what an easy ride welfare is- deep down these people KNOW that they couldn’t have the lifestyle they have on assistance. They have already surpassed the limits of the level that assistance seeks to raise those below up to.
If people think welfare is such a sweet deal- I welcome you to quit your job or get fired on purpose and try to live on welfare. Do it. See how long you decide to stay on before you use the contacts or skills you have to get back off. There is no benefit- and to the contrary studies and imperial data show a real draw back- to punitive or restrictive welfare.
Sure, it isn’t enough to just give a person money and expect them to learn to budget and what not. There has to be some guidance, resources to help people learn skills and financial intelligence, to find careers or training to get careers that they can support a family on and potentially grow. People are more upset when a kid who’s parents make less than $20k a year gets a free ride to a public college than when a kid who’s parents make high 6 figures or more gets a free ride to a major university. How will you et families off welfare of you don’t give people chances? Why does giving something to someone who needs it draw more anger than giving something to someone who doesn’t?
The truth is that most people can’t “hurt” the rich. They can’t stop them from getting a free ride- but they aren’t so powerless against those who have less money and power than them. So they attack those people who are least able to defend themselves. Makes us feel big I guess.
They cost far more than their worth, as less than 2% of welfare recipients are ever actually caught with anything in their system, and 90% of the time it's weed just because of how ridiculously long it can be detected.
Of course the fact that statistically the amount of people on welfare doing that are negligible and it costs more to test people that it saves. But hey, facts don't matter if you ignore them to push your opinion.