The Current Events Thread

[Exeres]

I loved that movie.

This scandal is much less exciting.

[BurntToShreds]

Texas is looking to pass a bill that would require people seeking welfare and unemployment benefits to participate in drug tests.

I think this is a good thing; but I believe that it should apply to all people receiving taxpayer cheddar.

[Mr. Mander]

Like honestly the drug testing thing is kind of invasive on a privacy level, they could just require a receipt for all purchases or something, and if there's cheddar unaccounted for at the end of the month or what not you check em for dank.

[BurntToShreds]

Well if someone wants to apply for receiving tax payer cheddar or is being payed in taxpayer cheddar, I think drug tests should be used because they'd be much more concise and less invasive than turning over all of your financial transactions to the government.

[Syobon]

You have to think through what actual effect a decision like this will have though. Extreme poverty increases crime rates drastically, and taking away financial support of people who're already on the border of a criminal lifestyle will likely push them over the edge. You might reduce the appeal of drug abuse by adding a punishment like this, but I honestly kind of doubt this will influence anyone's decision since it's already a crime. I prefer the approach where people are still punished accordingly to the justice system, but are still offered a way to reïntegrate into society. After all, a reïntegrated criminal is a boon, while one stuck in criminality will cost society until they pass away.

Keep in mind I'm not familiar with the technicalities of the US's social support system, so I don't know to what extent my mindset is relevant to this.

[BurntToShreds]

Well the bill does say that the people who test positive for drugs are allowed to enter a Medicaid-funded rehabilitation program, so that is a plus.

Dewhurst said that under the current proposal, anyone failing drug tests would be barred from participating in welfare programs for one year — unless they enter a drug rehabilitation program paid for by Medicaid, the government health care program for the poor.

[Madican]

I'd support it. Currently we have something called Section 8 here in Southern California, where it's welfare housing in non-welfare neighborhoods. Thing is, there are requirements to keep that housing, with rules like no felons allowed and no drugs. Get caught breaking any of the rules and it's eviction time.

Though that seems to have slowed down some after the city had a lawsuit leveled against it, which it fought, that claimed they were unfairly singling out black people for eviction. Nevermind they were caught with guns or drugs or people living there, nope it was because they were black. The lawsuit was dropped by LA County but the NAACP, which is a pile of shit, refuses to back down.

[Lambeth]

well around 40% of people in prison are black people, despite being 13% of the US population. The justice system has a long history of racial inequality. Basically what I am saying is the NAACP is justified and not a pile of shit.

[BurntToShreds]

I think he may be talking specifically about the Los Angeles Branch of the NAACP.

[Lambeth]

my point still stands

[BurntToShreds]

But from what Madican's posted, it seems that the only thing that matters to the NAACP is that the people who were evicted from their houses were black, and not that they were violating the terms of Section 8.

[Lambeth]

Can I see an actual news article or something, rather than just hearsay?

[Madican]

Just Google "section 8 lawsuit NAACP" and lots of them pop right up.

[Lambeth]

Just Google "section 8 lawsuit NAACP" and lots of them pop right up.

Hmmm

I don't see anything about guns or drugs.

[Madican]

That's the settlement details. They wouldn't be putting reasons people lost their Section 8 in the settlement details.

However, in those articles about the lawsuit, it says that Palmdale and Lancaster, after hiring the private enforcers, accounted for 51% of all Section 8 cancellations in LA County and 96% of those cancellations were upheld in court. Not all were because of guns and drugs, there's also things like other people living there who aren't supposed to. Those don't make the paper because it's not news. Only way it does is if there's a whole lot of drugs and guns, though paper doesn't mention it's a Section 8 house.

There's a reason there were armed deputies going on surprise inspections with the inspectors.