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T'OMM J'ONZZ

"the people ... still have [1½] out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad."
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South Carolina considers drug tests, community service for unemployment

Seeded on Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:58 PM EST
Read ArticleArticle Source: TheState.com
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Seeded by T'omm J'Onzz
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A Senate panel advanced bills Tuesday that would require people laid off in South Carolina to pass a drug test to receive unemployment benefits, then volunteer 16 hours weekly with a charity or public agency to keep receiving a check.

Though the panel heard testimony that both proposals would likely conflict with federal law, its chairman, Sen. Kevin Bryant, said afterward that doesn't matter.

"It's time to start pushing back," said Bryant (R-Anderson). "I can't base how I vote on a bill on what some activist, liberal judge is going to do."

The bills head to the full Senate Labor Commerce and Industry Committee, which meets Thursday.

Sen. Paul Campbell said his bill requiring community service will help people find jobs as they hone their skills. The intent is to match people's skills with work that needs done in cash-strapped city or county governments and schools.

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T'omm J'Onzz

"We're not trying to be derogatory," said Campbell, R-Goose Creek. "We're trying to help them go from the unemployed to employed ranks."

Senators amended the bill to require the work after five months, rather than six. Campbell said the 16-hour requirement would leave people time to search for a paying job, but Bryant wanted to require them to put in more time.

this is just so stunningly appalling and offensive. Republicans have just redshifted so far they can't help themselves; instead of a focusing on jobs, jobs, jobs and a "war on unemployment," they just make it a war on the unemployed. 'well you know the unemployed are the foot-soldiers of unemployment.' gods!

what they're doing -- because they refuse to balance their budget by raising taxes, on the rich at least, which is the only way to do so -- they're going to hold hostage the money that you paid into while you were employed and to which you're entitled unless you become the indentured servant of the state or, perhaps worse, some charity (probably state-approved; i.e., a "faith-based" one). and conservatives rail about choosing to help people via charity vs being required to do so via the government and taxes? well congrabulations; they're now one and the same! such amazing hypocrisy. or is it more dissociative ego defense mechanism?

yes, it's only 16 hrs/week, tho some wanted it to be 40hr, which would be regular part-time employment, but geez! 'i can't look for full employment full time because i'm conscripted to work 2 days out of week.' that's 40% of a work week.

and then they also want to drug test 'em, the way Florida does with welfare/TANF applicants, which already proved they aren't on drugs to the degree the rest of the population is, exploding that myth. apparently, SC Republicans are so delusionally stupid that the feel someone who's had gainful employment for years is going to suddenly start doing drugs because they were let go. paraphrasing what Ron Paul said during that early debate, how many people are going to go out and start using heroin tomorrow because they were fired yesterday?

they really have such an incredibly low opinion of everyone but themselves. "[they're] not trying to be derogatory," but they just can't help themselves; it comes so naturally.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/01/10/2108472/sc-senate-panel-approves-unemployment.html#RSS=breaking#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/01/10/2108472/sc-senate-panel-approves-unemployment.html#RSS=breaking#storylink=cpy
this

    Reply#1 - Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:25 PM EST
    Chellular

    What about those that are taking advantage of the system? In some areas, the majority of those on welfare really are lazy or complacent. They do drugs, hang out, and wait on their next check to come. Why should they be allowed to leach off money that could be going towards much better things?

    Of course we have to create jobs- volunteer work can create jobs that those volunteers can walk right into. Studies show that even mandatory volunteer work can change the tide of a person's life; as a volunteer coordinator for a small college, I've had to place kids on disciplinary charges in agencies, and I've watched them into productive, contributing members of society. Some of them even love their volunteer work now.

    Volunteer work lets people get out, make new friends, create new opportunities, and invest in their community.

    If it's the term "volunteering" that's got your panties in a knot, call it "sponsored service-learning."

    • 1 vote
    #1.1 - Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:48 PM EST
    Conservative Conspirator

    Being on drugs makes it harder to find a job....

    • 1 vote
    #1.2 - Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:43 PM EST
    Z1P2

    The actual bills sound reasonable, but the fact that they know they will conflict with federal laws which means they will do nothing but cost the state millions makes it a fools errand to pursue. All it ends up being is showboating and political grandstanding on the taxpayers' dimes and we deserve better representatives than ones that would do that.

      #1.3 - Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:50 PM EST
      T'omm J'Onzz

      In some areas, the majority of those on welfare really are lazy or complacent.

      first off, this isn't welfare; it's unemployment insurance. when you can learn what we're talking about, maybe then there can be a discussion.

      Being on drugs makes it harder to find a job.

      who's on drugs? seems like you, since these are people who lost their jobs and have to go looking for another. i guess you do think people say to themselves, 'well, i got fired today; think i'll go shoot up with heroin.'

      All it ends up being is showboating and political grandstanding on the taxpayers' dimes and we deserve better representatives than ones that would do that.

      people definitely deserve better reps than of that sort, but more than showboating and grandstanding, it strikes me more as not giving a damn about people's rights, and that the Constitution or law already say; they're going to do this because they want it. it might might not be in effect more than 6 months or only partially so, but to what extent i can force them to my will, i'll do it; 'fait accompli.'

      Republicans don't concern themselves too much about tomorrow; it's about what they can get away with today, if no longer. 'can't use a butterfly ballot again to confuse voters and steal an election again? okay, but it worked this time, at least.'

        #1.4 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:23 PM EST
        Z1P2

        this isn't welfare; it's unemployment insurance.

        That bears repeating.

          #1.5 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:21 PM EST
          T'omm J'Onzz

          yes, it's like your car or home insurance company say, 'okay, we'll reimburse you... but first we'd like you to come into the office and do a little typing, maybe some cleaning. also, you need to pee in this cup, so we're sure you're not using "our" money to do drugs.'

          and i've never claimed unemployment, but isn't it, if not also welfare, dependent on a sincere search for work? and i know welfare has a 5-year maximum lifetime (except for time as a minor) limit, so no ability to live off of it.

            #1.6 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:55 AM EST
            Conservative Conspirator

            Being on drugs makes it harder to find a job.

            who's on drugs? seems like you, since these are people who lost their jobs and have to go looking for another. i guess you do think people say to themselves, 'well, i got fired today; think i'll go shoot up with heroin.'

            No, they were on drugs already, and this makes it harder to find a job.

              #1.7 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:53 AM EST
              Chellular

              Ok, I apologize that my terminology was off; however, there are people in the area I grew up in that are doing the same thing with their unemployment. Discussion?

                #1.8 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:06 PM EST
                Reply
                Chellular

                Though I will say that pulling benefits from those looking for part-time work is awful. Sometimes part time is all the time you can find.

                  Reply#2 - Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:51 PM EST
                  T'omm J'Onzz

                  yes, and sometimes all that you want or can handle. consider a college student who has to work in order to make ends meet, including paying for school, but has to have a full-time class load -- not just for it's own sake but to receive financial aid -- so can only fit in part-time work. or someone caring for her kids or other relatives.

                  • 1 vote
                  #2.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:28 PM EST
                  Reply
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