Don’t tread on me — but by all means force me to give you my urine anytime for testing.
Fort Lauderdale Tea Party organizer Gabe Carrera with his "Don't Tread" sign
The Tea Party is all about freedom from government, so why would they follow their fearless leader, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, into the Orwellian world of forced drug tests for government employees and government assistance recipients.
Where’s the “You can have this piss cup when you take it from my cold dead hands”?
Where’s the talk of an out-of-control Big Brother trying to get into the people’s precious bodily fluids?
Or the outrage at spending taxpayers’ money on a measure that attacks personal freedom?
It’s nowhere to be found. And that’s not surprising, considering that the victims of this new government program are welfare recipients and government employees, the bogeymen of the right.
But why would the Tea Party stand idly by while Gov. Scott adds another costly government program, another taxpayer’s burden? If these guys are really about rooting out government waste and corruption, shouldn’t they be jumping all over the fact that Solantic, the health clinic firm in which he reportedly sold his interest in April, is heavy into the drug test business?
Not gonna happen. The Tea Party and Rick Scott are locked arm-in-arm for good; they’ll go down with the ship together.
bobnormansblog.wordpress.com 
Excuse me, but I want my tax dollars going to someone who is working coherently-not strung out..or putting in time…and frankly if I am paying for govt assistance from folks who are NOT working, should they not be tyreated as those that are- can’t have two set of standards….don’t wortry Bob, you won’t be unemployed or working for the govt- except maybe as the press agent for the President…..
If we’re concerned about tax dollars going towards people who use drugs, then do it nondiscriminatory. As in, shouldn’t we be testing ALL ppl who get paid through our tax dollars? As in… judges, legislators, and executives of firms who get state contracts? Why only target (once again) the “little people” and not those on the “top tier” who are paid through state tax dollars? Heh, test the Governor too – he gets paid through our tax dollars.
Singling out welfare beneficiaries promotes an ugly stereotype, and I dare say that as many judges smoke pot as welfare beneficiaries…
Very true BTAN,
Anyone remember Judge Korda? These electeds do make policies for other while not making them apply to themselves.
No btan, they work. Working people are drug tested why not people who don’t work.The “little people” please. If it’s such an ugly stereotype, then why are these people not fighting like hell to get off it. Unfortunately we have generations of people on welfare. There is no real incentive to get off of public assistance.
Something needs to be done to control the wasted spending and if you can’t get people to work for their government support then at least we can have them take a drug test so that we won’t have to subsidize a drug habit. And why are the opponents to the drug testing plan bringing up the testing of ALL government employees? Government employees WORK for their money (more or less) they are not asking for assistance.
“Excuse me, but I want my tax dollars going to someone who is working coherently”
*****************************************************************************************
I couldn’t agree more. How can we stop the flow of our tax dollars to Michele Bachmann, Allen West, and Scott Walker?
oh yeah and first!!!
Business should be free of government regulation – not you and me and our bodies. Isn’t that what the Tea Party (aka Christian right) is really saying and has been saying for years. Is anyone paying attention besides me and thee??
Thanks Rick Scott!!!
Are you seriously f-ckin kidding me? You are just as much of a joke as Scott is. Now I see why Republicants stick together.
Drug testing is a part of many employment processes. I had to pass before getting the job. Why such outrage, Bob, when this is already a requirement for employment in many businesses?
Hey this is virgins favorite pass time tea parties.
Thanks Augusta and Bubba !!!
“Lets Get To Work” (clean and sober)
Just because you DISLIKE Rick Scott, you don’t have to disagree with him on everything!!!!!
What is so wrong about drug testing for people who are on welfare??? So many people have to be tested when applying for jobs, why is it so horrible for drug testing for people getting paid by the government. It should be an requirement for everyone receiving pay, whether they are working at a job or just plain and simple receiving welfare.
I make over $50,000 a year and I dont get drug tested..
Fascist Pigs.
One toke of Marijuana stays in the system for 30 days and causes less societal and biological harm than the legal drugs alcohol and tobacco. Coke and Meth are gone from the system in 2 days. You ain’t gonna catch the real bad drugs with tests.
A recent commission comprised of some of the World’s brightest minds have concluded that ‘Drug War Has Failed And Governments Should Explore Legalizing Marijuana.’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/drug-war-has-failed-report_n_870096.html
Yet in FloriDUH we are moving in the opposite direction.
People smoking pot are not the problem in this country.
If a person who is down and out and needs a release from the overbearing pressure of their situation cannot take a hit off a joint and must now hit the bottle instead, it will more than likely result in a worse situation or behavior.
I encourage everyone to support a proposition to legalize medical marijuana in Florida in 2012 and to go even further and have an honest discussions of decriminalization or this natural flower that has never been known to kill a human being.
Support of these testing laws is an overreach of the privacy laws of our nation and the 4th Amendment.
Maybe Scott and his cronies will want your DNA next, your medical records, your private emails, your inner most thoughts.
This Governor is a DICK.
And the Tea Party are a bunch of Stooges.
Sorry Mary J , can’t agree with that bilge.
Amen, Fuck Rick Scott..
It is not an inalienable right to receive taxpayer money. There are requirements to be met. It is not an “overreach of the privacy laws……and the fourth amendment.” If you want privacy, don’t apply for free taxpayer money. Mary J, a recent committee of the World’s brightest minds would fit in a telephone booth in the Broward courthouse!
I’m aligned with the Tea Party. The Tea Party has not endorsed this.
I also tend to vote republican. But what disqusts me is more regulations.
We don’t need more regulation or to substitute republican regs for democratic regs.
We need to get back to a laisez-faire policies towards businesses and letting the court system/jury system decide if and when there are damages.
How about a moratorium on any new laws for several years. Enough with the bullshit already.
I’ve just had a Eureka moment!! Since we haven’t had a single job created, other than the ones for his pals getting a cushy State job, the Governor has finally found a way to provide jobs – – by testing State employees (not himself or his buddies, of course) and those receiving benefits. This will create lots of jobs for the private sector in testing and lab work. All those who fail the test will be fired, or bounced off the welfare rolls. These desperate people will commit crimes – – voila! – – more jobs in the prison industry! Of course those that commit white collar crimes are exempt.
Congrats on the Eureka moment.
Take it the next few steps, in addition to what you stated:
Their party/point of view professes to keep government out of peoples’ lives, and to support smaller government. Said drug testing activity would do neither of those things, in fact putting government more into peoples’ lives, and with (as you rightly said) a larger government.
And then, who does the testing — which lab? That is where you discover the potential for major conflict of interest, directly benefiting the “governor”. Oh, but wait! Didn’t he eliminate any potential for conflict by transferring his Solantic stock holdings into the account of another person? Yes! — his wife.
Eureka!
Laisez-faire policies. That worked out great for the global financial system.
Off Topic Virgil Spokewell said…. The Miami Heat will not beat the top teams Boston Chicago Dallas (or words to that effect)….GO HEAT!!! GO CANUCKS!!!
I may have been wrong about the Heat in predicting the future, but I know for a fact that laisse-faire policies caused the collapse of the global financial system.
Seriously, who over the age of 12 is not aware of that fact?
It seems I remember a time when the Florida Legislature was asked by the then Democratic Governor to limit the number of new bills they generated to no more than 5 per session. At the same time, Legislators were asked to review existing laws and eliminate laws that were no longer pertinent or were obsolete. Hmmmmmmm….what would happen if there was a moratorium on the creation of new laws?
There was by policy in many agencies, random drug testing for state workers. As for welfare recipients, I like the idea in theory.
Here’s the problem, False positives, confirmation tests, appeals processes, etc. I fear the costs of the program will outweigh the savings of keeping one druggie off of the welfare rolls.
Howdy and hellooooooo, its me Dead Norm….ok,ok, get over yourselves…..I Crazy Ed had to do a piss test a few weeks ago, I gotta check on him ’cause he still didn’t go, damn prostrate! Its not the pee test that is the problem, its that damn stool sample! Crazy Ed and Lil’M went to this bar, ya know to score some babes, well, they thought it was a real cool place, had all these multi-colored flags,Ed said place was hot inside, ’cause all the guys were dancing wid there shirts off,anyway, they said the place had a strict drug policy, Lil’M was trying to sit on a chair and some guy kept asking if he wanted his stool pushed in? Ed, said not a chick in da place so they left, uuuhhhhmmmmmmmm, ahhhh anyway, I had a great job for years and I had to piss in a cup al the time, sometimes just because I wanted to. Now, I didn’t have to piss in a cup, but they didn’t have to pay me neither. Same thing for these peeps that don’t work, ok, you gettin a check from me and my bros ( via govt assistance) den piss in a cup. Don’t wanna do it? Don’t take da money. Sorry pulpster, times are tough, tougher when you use drugs, even tougher if your stupid….Hey, open your own business and smoke all da weed ya want, fuck, shoot heroin, spoke meth, do whatever, I can make a choice to support your business or not.OK, gotta bolt, just waxed da floor at the nursing home, fun to watch dem try to navigate a walker on dat shit!
Hey Bob , it was easier finding the holy grail than finding this blog on the local 10 site. Boy did they bury you good. I would have at least thought that they could have added your name to the link that says “Blogs”.
Still I see that many of the regulars have found it . I guess I’m just slow to the party. Meanwhile over at the Pulp they are churning out 20 stories a day. By the time you have commented they have moved on to a new story. Sometimes less is more .
NT
NT here’s a good shortcut to bypass channel 10 and the extra frames
http://www.bobnormansblog.wordpress.com
the comments post immediately too
Nucky it took me awhile to find it too.
BTW The Pulp back on New Times is suddenly pathetic.
Your feelings towards all things Republican and Tea Party causes you to miss the point on this one. Your logic is flawed Bob. A significant part of the tea party platform is reducing the size of government and cutting government spending. Most tea partiers favor significant cuts to welfare and government assistance programs. Right or wrong, that’s not happening. If the government is going to provide those assistance programs, why is it wrong to require the recipients be drug tested? The money to fund those programs comes from tax dollars which are generated by people who work for a living. Many of them must pass drug tests in order to continue their employment, which in turn generates the tax dollars to pay for the assistance programs. Why is it acceptable to tax the workers but not the welfare recipients?
Your position would make sense if the governor wanted to drug test all citizens of the state and the tea partiers were okay with it. You know that’s not even close to what happened, but don’t ever miss out on a chance to take a shot at the tea party crowd. Don’t give me the bs about your rights when you’re receiving monetary assistance from the government. What “right” does someone have to take money from a working person so the recipient can sit around getting high and not working? The government merely plays the middle man to redistribute that money.
And before the anti-tea party crowd jumps all over me about personal freedoms, I agree with one of the earlier comments that marijuana should be legalized. That should have happened decades ago, and we should be discussing legalization of other drugs. I am in favor of minimizing government involvement in both my business and my personal life. I believe in personal freedom and privacy, but with that comes responsibility. If you want to get blitzed every day, have at it – just don’t expect the working citizenry to pay for it.
TO: INDEPENDENT THINKER: Your comment is serious, and not like the typical smartmouth comments. So, you deserve an attempt at a serious reply.
You Asked:”If the government is going to provide those assistance programs, why is it wrong to require the recipients be drug tested?” Because the infants/dependent family members of the person who tested positive for drugs should not have to suffer–THEY DID NOT TEST POSITIVE. Because (assuming the person is a drug abuser, it is better to require the person to have medical or drug program treatment to make it at least possible for the abuser to diminsh or stop the abuse of drugs–WE SAVE OTHER MONEY COSTS DOWN THE ROAD BY MEDICALLY TREATING DRUG ABUSE.
You also ask: “Why is it acceptable to tax the workers but not the welfare recipients?” Because receiving welfare should mean you cannot reasonably afford to pay taxes. It makes no sense to tax a person in order to give it back to the person. Also, most workers are taxed too much, because they too cannot easily afford taxes. This is NOT because government is bad or too big, but rather because too much advantage has been given to the rights of wealthy property interests, while subordinating the needs of our fellow humans, who are paying extra taxes because we have repeatedly given more and more financial advantages to the wealthy. (The wealthy, in turn, have sent the extra money out of the country, and have not repaid America for its generosity by, for example, building factories, hiring people, paying a reasonable wage.)
Finally, you ask: ” What “right” does someone have to take money from a working person so the recipient can sit around getting high and not working?” As stated, we ought not punish infants/children who are part of the family unit. And as to welfare recipients who use drugs: Are you assuming they are not addicted, and would not benefit from medical treatment for the addiction? And are you assuming most drug abuser actually like to use the drugs rather than get stable and hold down a responsible job? Would you agree that if even 10% of drug users need our help because they want to stop? Hmm… 10% of, for example, 80,000 drug users is 8,000 who can get stable, who have no need to steal or burgle to feed a habit, who can seek responsible jobs and start paying taxes–hmm. So should a civilized society make it harder on 8,000 in order to stop the other 72,000 (and their drug free dependents) from getting any welfare money help at all?
Finally, if you don’t accept any of the above arguments, at least consider that in the long run, a civilized society prospers more by offering support and treatment, by offering job training too. The money these cost is more than made up for in the reduced crime, reduced child neglect, reduced future drug abusers, reduced future prison population for us to pay for, and by increased payment of taxes by persons who no longer need welfare help?
Advocate – Thank you for your response. Well written, but I disagree with it for the most part. The problem I have with your position is that if the drug testing for welfare recipients hurts the children and families of the users, then why should it be acceptable for any company to drug test? After all, they’re denying someone a job which then hurts the children and family. That’s the same argument you made.
I agree that helping those who need (and want) help with addiction is a good idea. If someone is out of work and has addiction issues, are they able to get any treatment now without insurance? I don’t know the answer but thought you might.
I would much rather the money be spent funding treatment programs instead of simply being handed out as assistance with no requirement that the recipient make a legitimate effort at getting clean. I understand it’s not a simple issue and that the family is affected. But the family is also affected if the user is able to continue using drugs unchecked as a result of receiving continuing governmental assistance.
Excellent Comment!
Don’t you think he will give a pass to the citizens off doing pills? I mean, he does run a lot of those in the state and to him its ok people are overdosing. One way or the other, it will hit him in the pocket.
This is such an absurd solution to a possible non-existent problem. The Constitution actually forbids what Scott, by executive order, has done. Stop thinking that those who are unemployed are out of work because of drug use. It’s the economy, stupid!!! Unemployment compensation,(that’s WELFARE, per Scott’s order), keeps the roof over children’s heads and food on the table. So, a false positive, forgetting to divulge one of your prescription medications, or a contaminated sample puts those lives in jeopardy.
DAMN all those Christians who deliberately refuse to practice the teachings of their Christ.
SHAME on you for refusing to care for those who need help without making them jump through hoops.
Spot on!
Patti Lynn…Your comment was so correct!!
As a Canadian I agree weed should be legal ..But many on welfare should not be on a couch getting wasted watching Gerry Springer reruns…Donate a few hours each day helping the unfortunate, clean a beach, build homes for the homeless and the storm victims, look for a job etc etc etc….. Bottom line drugs cost money why should we support your drug habit …Now Get To Work!!! (clean and sober) …@ Mary J ..Getting stoned and drunk does not help your down and out situation …= munchies(unhealthy junk food) and a hangover!!!
This is the kind of liberal crap that Channel 10 wants to associate itself with? I for one will no longer watch Channel 10 news as long as this dumb blogger is sanctioned by Channel 10. Get rid of this biased blog!!
D= Dimwit Timmy Go Home!!!
This is America..You are allowed to post opposing views, or don’t you agee with that..Hypocrate!
Was up early today and saw Channel 10 do a little advertising about Bob Norman’s Blog.
Didn’t show Pulp but showed the Blog Logo.
Also I spoke with a well known local politician (seems like an honest abe). Who loves Bob Norman. Channel 10, Your the best!
Why stop at drug testing? Let’s search the homes of government employees for pilfered office supplies. We can’t have them wasting our tax dollars on stolen Post-It notes and ball point pens. And those receiving government assistance? Chemical castration is in order. After all, you can’t have these bums masturbating on our dime.
Ok I draw the line at not being able to masturbate.
I do have a plan though… Why not require people receiving assistance to perform community service/go to classes while not actively looking for a work? This will help get the person more marketable as an employee.
I dont need to do free work my people did that for the white slave masters and look where it got them.
My welfare is my payback to whitee for enslaving my people.
You mess with my checks, you messing with me.
like
Mr Citizen.
Must tell you. I always thought your avatar was the album cover from Exile On Mainstreet. Just realized its Evel Knevel’s helmet.
Hmm.
Just sayin.
Actually, it’s from the movie Easy Rider. You should watch it and you will know who the real enemies of freedom are.
It would be interesting, wouldn’t it MC, to find out how many of the folks who are against this type of testing, do drugs themselves…..
I’m sure that many that are opposed to this testing do engage in recreational drug use. They understand that adults can ingest a natural substance such as marijuana and lead normal, productive lives. They can teach students, run corporations, and yes, even deliver letters to your mailbox. Alcohol is a much more dangerous substance. It destroys 75,000 lives per year and leaves so many more emotionally and/or physically damaged in its wake. Do you realize how many government employees get plastered every night, including senators and representatives of congress. The President of the United States himself was on the cover of every newspaper in the world last week, on every cable channel, gulping down a pint of Guinness Stout. But one relaxing puff of smoke and our reptilian Governor would have you fired from your menial job behind the counter of the local tag agency, your family put out on the streets to beg for change at the on-ramp in order to eat dinner. Where’s the justice?
I’ve been on welfare since 1989 and have never taken drugs. I dont need to take a drug test to know I dont do drugs. I dont consider weed a drug and most smart people dont either. The governor shouldnt meddle into my life. I’ve never broken the law and dont need to be treated like a common criminal simply because my four law abiding and proud kids and I need welfare.
You are full of BS. But it one in every crowd.
I assume that professors at State Colleges are considered State Employees. Senator Marco Rubio just took a job at Florida International University.
Most households on welfare are headed by women – often the grandmother, not the mother. I am very excited that the government is now requiring the grandmothers to make a trip to a clinic or drugstore and get drug tested.
Also, I read somewhere that a pilot drug testing program for welfare recipients turned up very few positives. If the test comes back negative, the law says that the State will reimburse the test cost. I think this program is just costly government bureaucracy. Perhaps we should consider denying welfare to people who are alcoholics or obese or who smoke cigarettes or who buy lottery tickets too. After all, we don’t want our tax dollars used for those things, do we?
Drug test Gov. Lex Luthor and the FloriDuh Legislature first.
This site has not changed at all. Channel 10 must be really hard up to want this crap on their watch.
Same old people, writing the same old liberal bullshit. You all should stop smoking and popping those pills and get a damn life. I am sick of BN and you left wing jerks screwing up our country, cause it is going to pot (pun intended!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been on welfare since 1989 and have never taken drugs. So should my five kids and I be considered common criminals based on some flawed drug test? I think its time TO RECALL THIS GOVERNOR…….
Hey Tobin, have you and your foreclosure mill thrown any moms and kids on the street while their daddy protects your rights in the military? How much money do you get to put in your greedy little pocket every time you guys do that? Lots?? Chief Judge my ass, I guess the judicial system educated you well to be qualified for the second most corrupt job in town. There must be a special prize in hell for you greedy cutthroat creeps.
The funny thing is, is Alex Sink had won and was passing the same law all the left wingers here would be cheering at this groundbreaking piece of legislation, including Bob.
Thank you GFL!!!….And welcome to Bobs dysfunctional family 🙂
Bullshit.
Anyone with even moderate brain activity understands that Scott is demagoguing this issue to attract his base of far right extremists.
So, let me get this straight. After the elitist scumbags sent trillions of dollars of investment capital and American jobs overseas, you want to bust someone’s balls for smoking a joint because they cannot find a job?
My conservative friends: The downtrodden are not our problem; you’ve only been mislead into believing that because most of you lack critical thinking skills. The problem are the treasonous pigs that created this unemployment problem and that includes the human filth that run Wall Street.
And that is a matter of historical fact.
Virgie In the garage top shelf fake oil filter or STP Treatment can ….Enjoy and chill 🙂
What a memory. Maybe you don’t require a helmet on the ice.
P.S. Even though I won’t be subjected to drug testing, I no longer partake. I just become too wonderful.
Agreed there are bigger issues than drug testing welface recipients. But, given the state of the budget, if the program saves the state money, it is a win. If it don’t, let’s get rid of it. Simple. We need solutions, not whining–which you libs LOVE to do. Bob included.
It’s a stupid bill. It’s a distraction and is meaningless. Stop giving tax breaks to treasonous companies that hire foreigners.
We won’t have an unemployment crisis.
I think it is a great idea. Why is it so bad to test if they are receiving money from others and not working? Why should we continue to support these people with tax dollars if they are using it for drugs? If people want to buy drugs, why should the public fund that?
I really don’t give a rat’s ass if some hard-working employee wants to smoke a joint after work. As long as they aren’t driving a bus or operating heavy equipment, then who really cares? This is an enormous waste of time and the taxpayer’s money.