All over the country states are interpreting the constitutional privacy in different ways. The focus has fallen to the privacy rights of welfare recipients. Is it unconstitutional to drug test recipients to receive their benefits? The Buzz Hornet’s Nest show bring on guests to talk about this controversial issue, including Russell Mendelson and Larry Jackson. Each of these guests argues a separate side of the debate.
Russell Mendelson is a member of the Freedom and Liberty Group, an organization that works to secure the liberty of Americans, and argues that the government should drug test welfare recipients. In his interview with Buzz Hornet, he states his argument. His argument is that the government should not take away the rights and autonomy …show more content…
TANF recipients are using EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards to make purchases at bars and strip clubs. Using taxpayer’s money to pay for another’s drug habit is a restriction on autonomy. Testing welfare recipients prevents harm. Therefore, we should test recipients for drug use. Russell’s argument has good points, but his logic is hard to follow. He is saying that the taxpayers and children of TANF’s autonomy is more justified than the autonomy of TANF recipients. Additionally, his claim that welfare recipients are using their cards at bars and strip clubs is not justified by the article he cites. The article says that less than 1% of purchases are made at these establishments and what was purchased is not tracked and can even just be withdrawals. While he does offer a good solution, welfare recipients who are drug users can be helped by the government, it does not make testing a justified invasion of privacy and liberty. Based on the organization he belongs to and his ideas of liberty, his argument contradicts his beliefs. He believes each person should be given autonomy under law but somehow welfare recipients are not granted that same autonomy to not have their rights infringed
Russell Mendelson is a member of the Freedom and Liberty Group, an organization that works to secure the liberty of Americans, and argues that the government should drug test welfare recipients. In his interview with Buzz Hornet, he states his argument. His argument is that the government should not take away the rights and autonomy …show more content…
TANF recipients are using EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards to make purchases at bars and strip clubs. Using taxpayer’s money to pay for another’s drug habit is a restriction on autonomy. Testing welfare recipients prevents harm. Therefore, we should test recipients for drug use. Russell’s argument has good points, but his logic is hard to follow. He is saying that the taxpayers and children of TANF’s autonomy is more justified than the autonomy of TANF recipients. Additionally, his claim that welfare recipients are using their cards at bars and strip clubs is not justified by the article he cites. The article says that less than 1% of purchases are made at these establishments and what was purchased is not tracked and can even just be withdrawals. While he does offer a good solution, welfare recipients who are drug users can be helped by the government, it does not make testing a justified invasion of privacy and liberty. Based on the organization he belongs to and his ideas of liberty, his argument contradicts his beliefs. He believes each person should be given autonomy under law but somehow welfare recipients are not granted that same autonomy to not have their rights infringed