Rhetorical Analysis Essay:
Drug Testing for Those Needing Government Assistance
I have
decided to do my research for my rhetorical analysis essay on testing for
those who receive government assistance. I found this subject both informative,
and interesting, as well as controversial.
I
found a few articles that were quite informative, however when I came to this
one in general, it alone gave me a reason to decide to use it:
The
article in itself was written in February 26,2015, which is almost a year ago.
Which means the specs on it should not be that far off. Therefore current
aspects on drug abuse are overwhelming. Such tactics should be considered with
the way of the world in this day and age. However, within these aspects, are
the ever changing controversial changes of the legalizing of marijuana.
The article was written by two
people: Bryce Covert and Josh Israel. These
two gentlemen happen to be current writers for the “ThinkProgress” team. As for
if they are credible, “ThinkProgress” hires only people with degrees qualified
to maintain their criteria. “ThinkProgess” has a reputation that they need to
uphold, they aren’t going to hold to just hire someone from the street.
The main site this is through is www.thinkprogress.org whereas it is an org site designed
to point out where and what should or could be done and sometimes more
effectively. This site is owned and ran by the Center for American Progress
Action Fund. The site is a well funded and protected site, that people look up
to and respect, as well as expect correct facts and figures from.
On this page, the writers point out how
monies are being spent on the drug tests for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families) and how they are deeming it cost ineffective. According to these
writers, millions of dollars are being spent on the testing, when it can be
spent in other ways. They even provide you, as the reader with the statistics
from each of the states then doing it. This is giving you the realization of
facts and figures and where to look.
Yes, there were people that came back with
positive results to the drug testing. Not as many as they had anticipated. The
goal was to clean up the population of drug abusers, and put them into rehab,
and hopefully even slow down any welfare fraud. The question then would be, if
it has helped or hindered the problem.
Oklahoma had 297 people arriving with a
positive drug test result, they ranked the highest at that time frame. 297
Positive tests for 3,342 applicants.
From the above mentioned article I quote
regarding the controversy: “A spokesman
for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services told ThinkProgress that, not
counting personnel and system costs, the state paid $185,219 for the 2013-2014
year for this program, which came out of its TANF and Medicaid budgets.”Cite:State
Section OklahomaCovert & Israel “ThinkProgress.org./economy” article on
tanf-drug-testing-states 2015 February’
In 2011 Florida passed a law, and as the
article states, here in Florida, residents pay for their own testing. The
article proceeds to inform us: “108 out
of 4,086 applicants tested positive at a cost of $118,140. Applicants who
tested negative would be reimbursed by the state.” However, shortly thereafter, the Court
decided it was a violation of the fourth amendment right-the “Unreasonable
search and seizures.” clause in 2013 — a ruling upheld in December by the U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The three-judge panel noted that
Florida had “not demonstrated a more prevalent, unique or different drug
problem among TANF applicants than in the general population.” Cite: Paragraph
‘The Future’ Covert & Israel”ThinkProgress.org/economy” article on tanf-drug-testing-states
2015 February’
Other states, are still moving ahead with
the new law, requiring drug testing for help. But it is a very controversial
problem, with the cost effectiveness, and the fact that people do feel their
rights are being violated. There is a problem within a problem, and the only
way to fix it, is to keep investigating it further, and see where the real
problem stems from, and what can be done to fix it. More people need to care,
and more people need to want to change. The biggest problem stems with change,
and stems with issues. More research needs to be done, a step was taken, but
things are still inconclusive.
The article I am sharing however, did make
its points very loud and clear throughout, along with proper visualization, and
even links. I was more apt to share this, than anything else I found because
the amount of information it did have to offer! Within this article stood out
many good points, but behind the scenes there were several others. The things
you are ‘not’ truly seeing or even
understanding, are in fact, behind the scenes.
To conclude: My finding found that perhaps
we should make the recipients pay for their own testing, and reimburse them,
such as Florida tried. I do understand the concept of it seeming as a violation
of the fourth amendment rights, however, on the same tactics, you are coming to
the Government for help. If you are seeking Assistance, than you should be
willing to be completely honest with your Government, sometimes sacrifices need
to be made to get results.
On the same token, I do not find it
credible, to warn the receipent days in advance f the testing. This prepares
the person, said person can now flush their system, or even buy urine, and do
whatever it takes, to see to it, that they can see to it, that they are able to
pass their test, by falsification purposes. This happens, more times than you
may be aware. And this is why, we need to be more intelligent in our
preparedness.
The Government is our protector, and our
shield for safety, the one we look up to for guidance and safety. ‘We the
people’ go to them when we need help. But when ‘we the people’ are going to
Government for Assistance and using those funds illegally to buy gold teeth, Cadillac’s,
and drugs, we need to do something about it. The benefits ‘we the people’ are
receiving are for the needy, to feed our children, and protect them, and take
care of our families. Not to hinder us, and our health. When the Government has
recognized this, which they have, it is when they have decided to step in and try to make a difference. Just
because they are still unable to resolve this issue and make a difference, does
not mean, the Government is the problem. The problem still stems from ‘we the people’.
References:
2015-February: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/02/26/3624447/tanf-drug-testing-states/Article
by Covert & Israel: “What
7 States Discovered After Spending More Than $1 Million Drug Testing Welfare
Recipients”
