Drug Testing

Flordia passed a law that welfare recipiants must submit to drug testing in order to receive any type of aid from the government.  If they can not pass the drug test then that individual and his/her family no longer qualify for assistance.  Now I am not one to be up on current events and news, but I saw a post that several people had highlighted on their facebook status regarding Flordia's decision to implement this drug testing policy.  Many people commented their approval of the law because if people can be randomly drug tested for their job then why not mandate individuals that qualify for welfare help. 

At face value I agree, I mean if individuals are going to use drugs then why should tax money go to helping them pay for food and shelter.  There is however a huge flaw with this law.  The real reason that the welfare system exists is to benefit children, disabled and the elderly.  So specifically for children if their parents use drugs and are not able to qualify for social programs then ultimately the children are denied basics like food, shelter, and I am going to go out on a political limb and say healthcare. 

Now I am not saying that we turn a blind eye to the criminal acts of others, but instead of viewing the situation with the mentalilty that I should not help those individuals who can't help themselves and continue to make poor choices, maybe instead we view it as what happens if I don't help those who don't help themselves. 

We should not care for the people in our communities because it is the cheapest thing to do, but instead help others because it is the thing we are called to do.  Plus prisons are a much more expensive alternative to social programs no matter what politicians may say.  Preventative measures are always more productive and cost effective then reactive measures.