Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients and Public...

Have you ever questioned the tax taken out of your hard-earned money? Questions similar to that are where the money is going and if it is being used properly. In the U.S. news recently those questions have been on a great deal of State’s minds; reaching back to 2003, this issue has been brought up time and time again. The main topic of tax money is the use of assistance money and are the recipients really using the money for the right reasons. There are many problems with the assistance program but the one that comes to mind the most is that many people abuse the money given to buy the essentials and provide, for their family for illegal drugs. The solution that many state representatives have come up with is drug testing as a requirement†¦show more content†¦This determination comes about as many more people are turning to the protection that financial aid provides to get them through the recession. â€Å"Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse† (â€Å"States† FoxNews.com 1). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, known as TANF, is a program that provides monthly cash benefits to families with the intention of moving adults into employment in two years, max. Each state has the right to set eligibility limits and benefit levels. On average, a single parent family of three receives about $200 a month. TANF recipients in Arizona includes 84,000 people in 38,500 households the majority of that being children. The state’s Joint Legislative Budget Committee has found that the cost of drug testing for one year would charge 3.4 million dollars. This amount does not comprise the cost of treatment for the users (â€Å"States† Alcoholism 6). Barbara Hoberock states: In Oklahoma, recipients use debit like cards, electronic-benefit transfer cards. They are given a certain amount monthly for their mon thly benefit coverage; they cannot withdraw more than they are given. In 2009, 39,145 people were getting assistance through TANF. (1) Even though this just seems to be about saving money, it does have the underlying purpose of seeking those who need assistance with the drug abuse problem. EveryShow MoreRelatedMandatory Drug Testing Should Be Banned1365 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Mandatory drug testing has been and ongoing controversial issue over the most recent years. Mandatory drug testing has been subjected to students, athletes, and employees all over the country. However a lot of speculation has been made whether or not welfare recipients in particular should be subjected to mandatory drug testing. According to Besonen, programs such as welfare were created in the 1930s to temporarily aid struggling Americans to help get them back up on their feet. (BesonenRead MoreShould Drug Testing Welfare Recipients? Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesuse of drugs is an immense problem in today’s society. The big question is, is it a problem within the welfare system? Drug use isn’t just a problem of poverty; it’s found among all groups and classes. As said in Jamelle Bouies article, The Myth of Drug Use and Welfare, â€Å"The myth of welfare recipients spending their benefits on drugs is just that—a myth. And indeed, in Utah, only 12 peo ple out of 466—or 2.5 percent—showed evidence of drug use after a mandatory screening.† Drug testing welfare recipientsRead MoreDrug Testing : A Controversial Issue Right Now1439 Words   |  6 PagesRUNNING HEAD: Mandatorily Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Does More Harm Than Good Mandatorily Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Does More Harm Than Good Clare M. Pitlik Marist High School Author Note First paragraph: Introduction to history of drug testing welfare recipients Second paragraph: Explains why drug testing welfare recipients is unconstitutional Third paragraph: Explains why drug testing welfare recipients is costly Fourth paragraph: Rebuttals Fifth paragraph:Read MoreDrug Testing Essay1200 Words   |  5 PagesThere is a big question floating in the air around a lot of people today, â€Å"Is drug testing the welfare constitutional or not?† When dealing with this we come to many road blocks. We should know and understand the difference in a drug use problem and a psychiatric disorder. Also understanding the difference in substance abuse and substance dependence. Confusing the two could be an issue. When you decide to drug test the welfare there is much more that needs to go into it than just the test to determineRead MoreMandatory Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients1526 Words   |  7 PagesBreez Arann Ms. Holiday English 12 11/04/15 Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients When the United States’ welfare program was created during the Great Depression, it was meant to temporarily relieve the burdens of the one-fourth of American families who were unemployed, and struggling financially. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Social Security Act in 1935, then amended it in 1939 to create programs to assist families with unemployment compensation, and to create government agenciesRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Homelessness1674 Words   |  7 Pagesindividual that has no primary daytime or nighttime residence. Its residence is where it is not designated for human beings like us to sleep in such as public places or private. Some places may be buses, parks, benches, abandoned cars, transportation stations, trains, etc.†¦ Knowing the life situation they go through should homeless people be alcohol and drug tested before getting any federal help? Scott Walker is a guy who stand out in the crowded field to strive individuals with tough life situation andRead MoreDrug Testing the Less Fortunate 1023 Words   |  4 PagesShould drug testing be a necessity for all state and federal aid programs? Drug testing welfare recipients have been a major issue across the United States for a few years now. Many indicate that if working class people are subject to a test prior to hire or randomly during the duration of employment, why should those that don’t have to work for money not have the same treatment? The government estimated that random annual drug testing for welfare recipients would cost each taxpayer an additionalRead MoreWelfare Reform : Social Welfare Policy1257 Words   |  6 Pages Social Welfare Policy Social Welfare Policy Analysis Eric Dean University of Arkansas Introduction Several states have recently begun to enact legislation that requires welfare recipients to submit to drug tests before they are eligible to receive any public assistance. The purpose of mandatory drug testing is to prevent the potential abuse of taxpayer money, help individuals with drug problems, and ensure that public money is not subsidizing drug habits (Wincup, 2014). WhileRead MoreDrug Testing1837 Words   |  8 PagesMandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Introduction Mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients is a controversial issue. Should the government hold people accepting government entitlement’s accountable for illegal drug use or would this type of action cross the boundary of civil liberties into an invasion of privacy? The government has a vested interest in getting welfare recipients back into the working population. Holding welfare recipients accountable for illicit drug use onlyRead MoreEssay about Drug Testing For Missouri Welfare Recipients907 Words   |  4 PagesRepresentatives passed a bill and sent it to the senate that would require drug testing for those receiving state Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funds. Funding from food stamps, medicare, and public housing would not be affected by this bill (Keller – House). According to Columbia Tribune reporter Rudi Keller, the bill is very similar to the Arizona law which is the only other state that tests welfare recipients. Missouri and Arizona woul d use a questionare and interview which would determine

Close to the Edge the Representational Tactics of Eminem free essay sample

The Representational Tactics of Mine a comprehensive essay written by Marcia Ales Adkins, provides a concrete, insightful examination of the strategy and tactics used by a Caucasian artist to integrate himself into the predominantly African-American and Latino dominated sub culture of hip-hop. The purpose of this document is to illuminate the methods utilized by what Adkins calls the Other to seamlessly sneak Into a racially charged social group and gain acceptance amongst Its critics and audiences. This Is someone who would otherwise be labeled as an outcast from the point of view of Its patrons.Such methods draw from Michel De Carters stages of cultural navigation, which Adkins makes use of to support the analysis. The focus of this analysis is of course Amines conscious and effective employment of these three stages: appropriation, spatial acting out of the place and allocation, in order to represent himself as a talented artist. The significance of Adkins paper Lies In its clear and concise ability to communicate with other spectators and critics of hip-hop and In doing so offer Insight as to why others havent been able to mimic the same path Mine has taken to be successful in the art form.The general idea inferred from this article is that of the sameness and otherness, which is believed to be a large component of Americas racially divided entertainment industry. Adkins therefore refers to this concept continually as the underlining argument to reinforce her analysis of Amines representational tactics. The author explicitly gives credit to Mine (In conjunction with his management and record label) for his conscious Implications of De Carters three stages of cultural navigation.Beginning with appropriation, the author states that Mine is able to adopt the hip-hop vernacular and formula required to establish himself as an innovative white rapper as opposed to Just another discredited emcee. Adkins compares h is appropriation to that of The Beastie Boys, the first successful white hip- hop group. The author also points out the failure of Vanilla Ice, from which Mine learned that creating a facade or false Image would ultimately destroy the career of a rap artist In a short time. Amines race Is of obvious concern when regarding his appropriation.The concept of sameness/otherness resurfaces when Mine is arced to confront and industry dominated by minorities. In order to secure his appropriation he affiliates himself with African-American practitioners of the art form and in doing so not only is he accepted and deemed authentic but he Is also able to spur his career. Thus, Adkins ascertains that Mine came to the realization that authenticity and honesty to his audience would serve to gain their respect and adulation, hip-hops absorption by suburban middle- class white youths hankering for authenticity is the latest phase of a complicated history of transversal entertainment. Adkins, 467) This is a valid argument that can be applied to most sub cultures, because in order to firs t be welcomed into any culture something must first prove its worth. Therefore this idea of appropriation can be applied to another genre of music or a new product. Adkins following argument focuses on the aura embodies is a singularity, a unique trait attributed to that person alone. When applied to Mine the aura is personified through his multiple personae. The purpose of the aura is to distance Amines art from his audience thus rendering it inaccessible and indestructible.In regard to De Carters paradigm, Adkins states that the aura serves as a clever marketing ploy in where Mine clearly distinguishes himself as the Other. Mine uses his alter egos Slim Shady or Marshall Matters to address an insane, zany, outrageous topic or a serious, sentimental tone respectively. This creates a certain mystique about Mine which only further reinforces and reaffirms his status as a talented emcee. The idea of the aura works in unison with mechanical reproduction, a way for Mine to represent and distribute himself in different methods to his audience. Like the MM candy, he is packaged and colored differently on the surface depending on the expectations of his intended audiences. (Adkins, 472) The final argument and last stage put forth by Adkins is that of allocation, when referring back to thesis is the notion that the same and Other can co-exist. No longer divided by racial boundaries, in Amines case being a white rapper in an ethnic genre, he no longer has to walk the line of blackness/whiteness. His outlook, impressions and creed are shared with the rest of the members of the sub culture.The arguments Adkins presents are compelling and for the most part the evidence to support them are very solid. Are the sources reliable however? The answer is a resounding yes; Adkins utilizes a number of sources from a variety of academic scholars and reputable writers. The basis on which Marcia Alaskan Adkins develops her thesis is directly from Michel De Carters The Practice of Everyday Life. Michel De Accurate was a scholar of social sciences and therefore his studies and findings outlined in The Practice of Everyday Life are a sound platform to draw and develop ideas from.Furthermore, his ideologies of the three stages of cultural navigation are logical, well-grounded and strong therefore making them hard to dispute. With this as the framework used to establish and further the authors arguments there is no possible way we can discard Adkins stance from the beginning. In defending the arguments Adkins brings to the forefront sound reasoning and many examples and analogies are offered. For instance to support her claim of Amines successful appropriation into hip-hop, Adkins gives concrete evidence that reinforce that he was indeed a success from he beginning, Since his underground debut in 1996 Mine Old over 33 million records, won Grammar Awards and an Academy Award, developed a clothing line called Shady Ltd (Adkins, 466) This is irrefutable evidence of Amines successful appropriation into the sub culture. In addition, Adkins has a comprehensive list of sources that share her same opinion in some respect or another. Drawing information from the opinions and analyses of other critics, Journalists and writers, the author is able to develop her own examples of how Mine indeed maneuvered is way into hip-hop consciously using the three stages.Regarding the second stage which deals with the aura and the idea of re-inventing oneself in the form of a persona or an alter-ego, is reinforced not only by Amines alter-egos but that of his propg Curtis Fifty Cent Jackson. This example is highlighted by a specific video in where this second stage is clearly visible, the breakout single, In Dad Club. In this three distinct settings: in the laboratory, in a nightclub in and in the recording studio (Adkins, 472) Therefore it is a safe and fair assumption to say this article engrossed a large accumulation of research of reliable information.Adkins analysis entitled Close to the Edge: The Representational Tactics of Mine is a thorough account of the tactics used by Marshall Matters in order to assimilate himself into the hip-hop social group, using the cultural navigation stages devised from Michel De Accurate. This paper makes a point of creating theoretical assumptions that this feat is especially difficult for Mine who struggles finding his place in the aforementioned social group because he is of Caucasian decent and Hereford it is harder for him to be accepted by ethnic artists and audiences.This theory is that of sameness/otherness or blackness/whiteness when applied to Mine. Although the analysis is valid the author states that this is an experience exclusive to Mine and this is a false assumption. By taking on multiple personalities, or flavors, in music videos and lyrics to make audiences forget that there is only one of him he closes the door for other transversal artists and preserves inequality (Adkins, 480) This quotation suggest that no other rapper either than of African-American or Latino decent can saturate the medium such as Mine has.This is invalid, in fact due largely in part to Amines success other rappers, namely Caucasian have been able to gain acceptance in the sub culture. Paul Wall a down south white American rapper has experienced notable success in the hip-hop world. Releasing singles such as Still Tipping and Break Me Off and since establishing himself as a talented white rapper. Similarly Collie Buddy a white reggae artist has also gained access into the reggae culture which is also predominantly black and mom would argue more difficult to infiltrate then rap music itself.Therefore the maneuvering of Mine is not exclusive to him alone. It has now become a trend to almost encourage the idea of transversal artistry. The text written by Adkins outlines the struggles and difficulties taken for any craft or product to first overcome obstacles and gain acceptance, and subsequently maintain popularity through the use of re-invention, or a certain mystique, or by branding or by representation. This can be applied to all aspects of popular culture.