Completely agree.
I have no doubt there is nowhere near that extra capacity for drug treatment in NZ (or Aus for that matter). It can be dressed up as 'helping' these people, but it's completely unrealistic to think that any significant number of people will actually get worthwhile 'treatment' from this. I just find it amazing that anyone thinks this wont be a disaster, let alone effective. Surely we're past the days of drug addiction being seen as simply a moral failing which someone can be shamed out of. Making life harder for some of the most vulnerable people in society will only increase strain on the family and friends who'll end up supporting them, or lead to increases in crime, as has been said before.
But hey, maybe drug testing being introduced for a larger and larger segment of society will be what turns the drug war around. Surely it'll get harder to dismiss drug users as simply dole bludging junkies when more and more people who are succesful, hardworking, and identifiable to the average aussie are exposed as drug users.
^ i applaud and deeply commend those brave souls. risking life and limb so you and i can get on, friend.
I'm actually for the drug testing because the dole isn't meant to support your drug habit it's to support you to buy food etc until you get another job (as low as the payment is).
I don't like the idea of someone using my money to do nothing all day except get stoned etc...
Having said that I would like to know what happens if you test positive as cutting off welfare payments would only bring about more crime.
"Your money" isn't doing shit. What percentage of the tax that you pay goes on welfare? Then how much of that goes on legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco? This is a pointless argument because you are either too young or too dumb to understand anything.
I'm sorry but if you start name calling on a forum when we're all having a sensible discussion then it says more about you then me.
I don't care if it's 0.00001% of my taxed wage that goes on welfare it's still 0.000001% of my money (and everyone else's that pays tax).
I'm not against welfare I'm against it being abused for drugs when it's meant to be a safety net for people struggling.
I didn't think the policy had anything to do with student support payments...?
Actually no none of its your money. Your taxes are not your money they are the governments aka societies not yours. Let me guess you use roads yes? Have you personally paid the full cost of every road you have ever used? No? Then you owe society for use of roads and other societal goods. Society calculates what you can afford to contribute and then taxes this amount. You are paying for the priviledge of living in civil society and using the (everything around you) societal goods and good. You would be NOWHERE without society. Society owes you nothing in return for your taxes you owe socity in return for what it gives you. Thus taxes are no more YOUR money than when you make a purchase from the shops and the money paid remains yours and you get a say in how the shopkeeper spends the money you give him. Get it?
You're looking at it from the offside of the coin to what I am.
I'm looking at it from - if I don't like this policy because it's costing the tax payer money then I'll vote in a government that cuts the spending for it, then cuts taxes and hence increases money my net pay (in a very simplistic example).
It's my money because I'm paid a salary and depending on policies/tax law for the year then it depends on how much of it goes to the government. You do know in some countries you don't pay tax?
The money is my money because it's in my wallet until I spend it and if I don't like the price the shop is charging me I'll buy it cheaper somewhere else or in the political example vote for someone else.
Wow... this is getting off topic
I agree it's your money, and you should absolutely have the right to vote for whatever party fits your beliefs.
I do think however if you read into the topic as much as I and many of the other bluelighters have, I think you would see it from out side. I think few people would vote for this if they were as informed as us. This is my belief, I may be wrong, but from my experience, most people who would vote for this to be passed are generally less informed. Most of the media (nearly all) is very one sided against drug use, this makes it difficult to make for most people to have a balanced view towards this topic and drug use in general.
I would like to know a bit more about you nin (without being specific). Most of the people on this forum are experienced with drug use and it's surroundings, i'm surprised anyone on this forum is for this, I'm glad to have someone on the other side of the fence, because it makes for good discussion.
I don't want people to insult you, I just want to know your side of the story, and I would like to know more of the reasons why you think this law should be passed.
I understand when you say you don't want your money to go to feeding peoples habits, but I have little doubt it would save money from the costs that would go to doing all these tests + the potential damages to society.
Do you believe that this will get people jobs quicker? I'm skeptical to the likelihood of this, I believe for the majority of drug users it doesn't impact their chance of getting a job (I know drug users on and off this forum who have quit drug use to get a job because of drug tests), The majority of people aren't drug users, so all this will do is cost time and money to drug test them. And the minority of dependent drug users, who are at risk of getting sick from withdrawls might give them the kick they need to find a job, but I wouldn't be surprised if many of them turn to crime instead.
Sorry for the long rant, I'm just really baked right now haha =)
Hey thestudent,
Without going into too much detail I'm a professional in my field of work (8 years of study)
I first tried ecstasy in about 2003 and have used it on and off ever since
I hate the war on drugs (such a waste of money and could be taxed if made legal)
Been on this site for years but only signed up with an account a couple of years ago during the MDMA drought.
I agree with the above stated policy (in simple theory) for the simple fact that I don't believe tax payer money should be wasted and used for drug use but having said that I didn't mean to come across as though I support the policy 100% as I haven't read the finer details.
The one part that annoyed me is the people saying that it's their money and they should be able to spend it on what they want, as I stated above it's not really their money it's the tax payers money to support people struggling for food etc..
I did say above it would be interesting to know what will happen if someone does test positive to a drug test??
I would have thought something like food stamps may solve this problem if they do test positive... but maybe even that can be traded for drugs..
Except the few who get paid shitloads for doing something they love %)
The dole is for people to "live" in our society. One mans poison is another's elixir. While I can understand the frustration of watching someone bludge the days away in front of the television, pulling cones and drinking beer I hardly envy their life. Sure I wouldn't mind not having to work but living only off the dole is hardly the luxurious life. If they prefer to live in sparse accommodation or even worse at home with the parents then they can keep that.
There are plenty of more pressing "wasting" of my tax payer dollars.
The dole is for people to "live" in our society. One mans poison is another's elixir. While I can understand the frustration of watching someone bludge the days away in front of the television, pulling cones and drinking beer I hardly envy their life. Sure I wouldn't mind not having to work but living only off the dole is hardly the luxurious life. If they prefer to live in sparse accommodation or even worse at home with the parents then they can keep that.
There are plenty of more pressing "wasting" of my tax payer dollars. I don't see why we have to pay to keep patients alive for years at a time on life support, or subsidise lung transplants in smokers or supply soldiers to kill civilians while wearing the flag of my country. Unfortunately I don't get to decide if a warfare recipient buys fresh fruit and veg instead of a bottle of rum either so I'll just have to wear that disappointment.
There may be plenty of more pressing wasting of tax dollars but we're only speaking of one topic here and as I said before I don't care if it's 0.00001% of our tax dollars it's still a waste and that doesn't mean we shouldn't stop the waste (OMG did I just turn into Tony Abbott).
As for the professional quote, treat me for what I am I don't care I was only giving some background to thestudent and to who ever reads this because I know most people think drug users are bludger (I'm not here to dick size trust me I'm very small).
Your ignorance is palpable. Have you even read the thread? Or are you just going to continue spouting a load right-wing rhetoric until you explode? Nobody chooses to be poor. Trust me, in the past there have been times when I lived on the money from government benefits, and it definitely wasn't enough money to "bludge" on. If I wanted any social life at all, I had to hustle (interpret that how you will), and to be frank, it takes a lot of effort to live that way. Not to mention the basic concessions you have to make.
Your attitude is straight out of a tabloid newspaper.