While Congress pushes for drug tests for food stamp recipients, most Americans like the idea of drug testing members of Congress even better.
A YouGov poll found that 78% of U.S. citizens are in favor of requiring random drug testing for members of Congress. A full 62% said they “strongly” favor this, compared with only 51% who feel the same way about food stamp and welfare recipients.
The support for this move was bipartisan, as 86% percent of Republicans, 77% of Democrats and 75% of independents support the mandatory drug tests for members of Congress.
It would seem that more than Americans are worried about drugs, they are upset with the hypocrisy of U.S. lawmakers, who carry on this charade of a “War on Drugs” while using the very things they pass laws against.
I think this is a great idea.
Anybody else?
An even better idea would be to subject all members of Congress and all presidential candidates to a very rigorous psychiatric evaluation.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! The Drug Of Choice for politicians is "Power" which does not show up in laboratory testing.
DeletePower and greed are the drugs of choice.
DeletePresident Bush was so >>>fearful<<< of drug-testing that he transported his own private portapotty and toilet paper wherever he went. AND his shit was collected and flown back home for disposal.
DeleteBetween the cocaine and the alcohol, his urine probably fizzled... and who knows what else he was using?
http://www.rense.com/general72/fexc.htm
My friend in the 70's went from married to an actor/musician in Hollywood to a lobbyist in WVA legislature. She said the amt of drinking and drugging by the polititians was shameful and so much more then the wildest artists she knew. I say test em! (and I'm a pot smoker)
ReplyDeleteThey started testing welfare recipients in Florida (big surprise) starting in 2011 under Lord Volderscott. Failure rate was 2.6%, well under the failure rate for the general public. This move was supposed to save the state money but cost it money as the state had to pay for all negative tests. Democrats introduced legislation to have the governor and all legislators tested since they received public funds. Asif Manvi from The Daily Show went to a Scott news conference and asked him to pee in a cup. The law got tossed as violating the 4th amendment.
DeleteThey are on something...
DeleteIt's Gotta Be Good Stuff...
Especially what those teabaggers are using...
Personally, I think it's a great idea! I have to undergo random drug testing at my private sector job, why not these yahoos in Congress that make and pass laws that they act like they are above obeying? This is one of the best proposals I have ever heard of.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about we start with Ted Cruz (and move to Greg Abbott)?!
-Houston Liberal Democrat
What might the penalty for a failed drug test for a congress person? No check and/or benefits? Rehab? Christian counseling by Marcus Bachmann?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the penalties for a failed drug test for a person receiving public welfare benefits?
dowl
Agree.
ReplyDeleteLet them start with Boehner and then move on to all the GOP members of Congress, both Houses.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
YES! Boehner's breathalyzer results would be off the charts. Many of the so-called "representatives" are delusional, they HAVE to be "on" something. David Vitter,( the diaper changing by prostitutes) is running for governor of Lousiana, and stands a good chance of winning! He received a standing ovation when he returned to DC after that scandal. Lie detector tests would be a good idea for these creeps also, too. They spout family values, when the only politician of recent memory with those is Jimy Carter. President Obama, Joe Biden and Bernie have those values too. Name ANY repub. with "family values"
ReplyDeleteThe American right-wing needs to be tested for Hypocrisy Awareness.
DeleteSo true, Barbara!
DeleteHow many of them would vote to shut the government down over a law like THAT? The Not So Supreme Court should be added to that list. Competency testing would be a great idea. Gohmert and Cruz would fail those tests. So many of the regpubs. seem to be delusional, they must be "on" something.
ReplyDeleteThis is where folks who talk about the constitution have never read the constitution. The 4th Amendment has this little thing about unreasonable search and seizure. Taking my bodily fluids without a court order in the form of a warrant is just such an unreasonable search and seizure.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, we all presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Peeing in a jar to prove one's innocence is not what the Founders had in mind. Why not just the let the police search all our homes? After all, what do the innocent have to hide?
I have always believed that the 4th Amendment is one of our more important amendments. Then again, I have been hollering about the deficit since Jimmy Carter, so what do I know?
I have to disagree with you, Carroll. It is in one's employment agreement that drug testing is to be done and refusal of the testing is grounds for dismissal in most cases.There are the usual loopholes, such as substance abuse classes, but failure to attend those is also grounds for dismissal. The same could be made a part of their "contract".
DeleteThe problem isn't the cheating or the testing, though. There is no way in hell the bastards would PASS such a law!
Holy right on Carroll! As I read your comment, I wondered to myself, did I sleep walk last night and write this comment?
DeleteThis piss test thing has pissed me off since day one. Nobody has the right to scan my piss, my blood, my sweat, my drool, my snot or any other bodily function.
As you said, they are saying you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent. It seems this is a way for their piss testing buddy companies to make a bunch of money. Always about the bucks, ALWAYS!
I've been screeching for decades that ALL government workers, (that means ANYBODY that works for the gov.) whether local, state, fed, should be tested. Interns, janitors, cooks, right on up the line to the Pres. All of them.
I can not believe that no one has challenged this bullshit law. I can't believe there is not a lawyer somewhere that has said, wait a minute, they can't do this.
Once again, a shining example of our so called, (pay to play) justice system. If you can pay, you can play. If you can't pay, you go away.
How about voluntary testing Carol? Those who submit get to wear a little pin on their lapel.
DeleteI remember when drug testing was brought in as a tactic to keep the workforce clean.as long as it was in place the insurers were happy.it was up to the owners of companies whether,or not ,they implimented it.
DeleteSo what?
DeleteLet those that broke that law by forcing the little people to submit to illegal search and seizure in the form of mandatory testing themselves be forced into the same thing.
If Congress had to live under the same laws they enact on the public, maybe they'd think twice before enacting them.
Politicians always think the law applies to others and never to them. The wealthy elite think the same way.
I'm for it, a great use of taxpayer money because at least there will be someone caught for illegal substances....
ReplyDeleteYou think politicians don't have access to clean urine to substitute for their own? Am I being too cynical here?
Delete@Barbara
DeleteObviously you have never had a job that required testing/random testing. You are sent to a facility where you are monitored during the "donation", or semi monitored( there is privacy to consider). It's not like you get to bring in your own cup of pee with you, you have to produce a warm cup of pee at the testing site.
Having worked jobs where you pee in a cup to have the right to work, I'd like to state that from personal experience, you are mistaken.
DeleteClean pee is easy to bring with you.
@ Silly
DeleteThen the company you worked for contracted with a very poor testing facility.
I can just see it now - Congressmen and women would pay for their results not to be published!
DeleteAlthough I totally agree that all of them should be tested for numerous things - how would it be monitored for accuracy and truthfulness.
The politicians would fight this idea because they know they'd be caught!
Alcoholism is rampant in the U.S. Congress and State governments. That problem should be disclosed too!
They pee in a rubber,take it in ,in the underwear.
DeleteWhenever I've had to take a random drug test for my job, immediately after providing the sample, the technician tests the temperature of the urine to make sure it is at body temp. So how would smuggling a condom full of clean urine clear that test? They also instructed me not to flush the toilet afterwards. The technician flushes the toilet to insure a testee is not flushing away contraband.
Deletelol so many people have been doing it for years 9:37. there are tricks to the trade and it is more simple than complicated.
DeleteThe rubber is next to your body so its the same temp as long as its a new sample.otherwise you warm it in warm h2o and off you go to "donate". They aren't going to frisk you to find a used condom in your pocket.
DeleteI say piss test all Pols, Federal, State, and Local.
ReplyDeleteWould prescription drugs show up? And reflect an abuse of them?
ReplyDeleteYes and no, depends on the extent of the testing. But usually morphine based drugs and a few basics are tested for. But if a person has a prescribed drug, that could be listed with the testing site.
DeleteThey monitor people on probation/parole
DeleteSounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteEven if there are no drugs being used, I think it's important that members of Congress get to understand the process involved. It's just one more thing meant to humiliate and degrade people who are on public assistance--and they should not be immune from that.
ReplyDeleteArchie Butt
Doesn't bother me at all. We already have many positions in our government where employees can be tested randomly, why exclude the congress and senate, test them all.
ReplyDelete50% of the US Congress are evangelical white Christian old men, who say they NEVER would use drugs.
ReplyDeleteOF course in their solipsistic bubble, coffee, alcohol, xanax, paxil, adderal, and dexedrine are not drugs, those are blessed by gawd and baby jeebus for the legal use of the faithful rill 'Muricans, who only speak 'Murican
I immediately thought the same thing, 6:03 AM! The majority in the U.S. Congress are in the 'senior' category and their choice would be alcohol!
DeleteAnd, they do imbibe! Look at your State Legislatures too. Booze and bars are in most of their offices!
How about testing cops for hard drugs and steroids?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this suggestion too!
DeleteAwesome idea!
ReplyDeleteI think that Congress should take a test, yes, the same test given to people applying for citizenship. I doubt that they know and understand American History and what's in the Constitution. Let's add a basic intelligence test as well.
ReplyDeleteYes - begin with John Boehner, known alcoholic and Speaker of the House!
ReplyDeleteLove it! How about we throw in random cavity searches too? Bend over, John Boehner, we're gonna give you something to cry about.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, I can see them buying clean urine on e bay. Guess I won't be "pressing the flesh" anymore, or at least without heavy duty latex gloves,
ReplyDeleteTest them weekly and make sure it's a broad range of prescription and illegal drugs including alcohol and STDs.
ReplyDelete