The United States of America is known to others in third world countries as a place to come to make your dreams come true. Well for some people it may make all their dreams come true but for some it may not make all their dreams come true. But lucky for us this country helps its people. We Americans live in a country that helps out our needy, well the most that are needy. The working needy is not included.

It’s been awhile since I’ve heard anything about the welfare reform and laws that need to be enforced. I was listening to NPR and was hearing that the government and states want to start drug testing individuals who receive TANF food stamps and cash aid welfare. The testing was brought up to help each state save money. I became angry as I was listening to this information. I became angry because why the heck would we agree to spend more money on people who are already receiving tax payer’s money and want to spend more money to drug test the recipient. How absurd! Anyway if a parent tested positive why would it be fair to cut off their children when it’s not their children’s fault their parent or parents a user.

So out of curiosity I had to investigate what the heck is going on with our system and its decisions. Because if I was asked to vote for drug testing recipients receiving welfare I would be appalled, I found out that 10 states started to test recipients receiving welfare. And what I found out was intriguing and to mention it was all a waste of time and money. A few states that have already started drug testing are stated and what they spent; Oklahoma spent $385,872, Missouri $336,297, Utah $64,566, Tennessee $5,295, Arizona $49,.00, Kansas $40,000. The states spent more money drug testing so there was no saving money as the states and government had expected. What a waste of money that could have been invested in other places like education. And what was really concluded and solved?

I don’t believe that recipients should be drug tested, it’s obviously is a waste of money and resources. I believe that they should be sent to therapy and counseling and sent to school. If we tax payers are paying for all these individuals receiving aid, we the tax payer should be making some decisions in a positive manner. The government is worried about money being spent; spend the money in a better positive way. Teach men and women how to emotionally and mentally fix themselves.

Why do people end up on welfare, it can be a repeated lifestyle from their single parent or parents. It can be an easy solution to get paid when there are no jobs and they live in poverty. Whatever reason it is people are getting benefits from our government which tax payers are paying for. I never became so angry until recently, I was always proud to live in a country that was able to help out the needy. But as hard as I work and I can barely afford to pay my rent and buy groceries, I work two jobs and I see my checks getting heavily deducted and makes me in need to work longer hours to make it and still find myself struggling. Seriously how far is that to me and other hard American workers?

I also recently found out that recipients can purchase alcohol with their food stamps. Our government not only helps with food stamps and cash aid our government offers, it offers individuals section 8, which is a program provided for needy families. Another benefit us tax payers pay out but don’t get to participate in and benefit resources. I’m seriously irritated that there are many people who use the system and abuse it and some who have made a career out of it. I am open for sending collecting recipients to therapy, counseling and then school. Help individuals empower themselves to get ahead and employ them. If they can’t comply with that policy then cut them off. Because then the government and state has given the recipient every resource available. But if the states and government take the right approach to this situation there can be a positive solution, instead of drug testing which is a waste of money and time. Hopefully soon our American dollars can work in more of a positive resourceful way, as opposed to continue scare tactics of drug testing.