Research Paper on Drug Testing Welfare for Benefits

On Drug Testing Welfare for Benefits - Research Paper Example One of the consequences of drug abuse can sometimes be joining the welfare system when drugs take over the drives and ambitions that would otherwise allow an individual to be able to work and become independent. Welfare serves a meaningful purpose in society in trying to help those who are in circumstances where they cannot find meaningful employment. Those who are choosing to use drugs, however, are not on a track towards gainful employment and a successful life. I believe that drug testing for welfare recipients will effectively limit the amount of drug abusers collecting money. The initial argument would appear to be part of the criminalization of the poor that is pervasive within this nation. According to Gustafson, â€Å"While lawmakers and the public seem unwilling to devote tax dollars to providing cash benefits to the poor, there seems to be a great willingness to spend money to police the poor – even when doing so seems to be economically inefficient or ineffectiveâ €  (59). The attitude of Americans seems to be that being poor is the equivalent of being immoral or criminal. There is a vast misunderstanding about what it is to be poor. Poverty most often does not occur because of poor choices of a criminal nature, but because of poor choices on a social level. This can mean everything from bad investments to having chosen to work for a company that eventually layoffs its employees. A poor choice is not the same as an immoral choice, and the consequences are not always predictable. Still, the American public does not seem willing to spend real money to help others out of poverty but is more than willing to spend money to criminalize the desperation that comes from being poor. One of the desperations that come from being poor can be drug abuse. While the vast majority of people on welfare are not drug users, there is a portion that are on welfare because of drug abuse or who have turned to drug use to relieve the pain of poverty. According to Gustafson, â€Å"Drug use among welfare recipients appears to be higher than drug use in the general population, but drug dependence which interferes with relationships and work, may not be higher† (60). Furthermore, Gustafson goes on to say that â€Å"even if welfare recipients use drugs, the vast majority who would be subjected to drug testing do not† (60). Therefore, it is not the majority who would be affected by drug testing and in order to combat the social problems associated with drug use, alternative services would need to be provided. It is clear that drug use among welfare recipients is counterproductive to the goals of welfare. The goal of welfare is to provide for people while they climb out of poverty towards a more successful future. Using drugs diminishes the ability of individuals as they endeavor to function in a productive society. Drug users need treatment, however, not to be goal seeking where employment and future success is concerned. Allowing pe ople who are using drugs to continue in the welfare system is a waste of those resources and should not be a part of that system. It would be more cost effective to treat those who test positive, providing care for their children during that time period, than it is to continue criminalizing that behavior. The costs of the ‘drug war’ is three to four times that of providing treatment

Ethics in International Environments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in International Environments - Essay Example â€Å"Ethics has†, the Columbia University Press views, â€Å"developed as people have reflected on the intentions and consequences of their acts. From this reflection on the nature of human behavior, theories of conscience have developed, giving direction too much ethical thinking†. (Retrieved from cup.edu.com)   Case Background: In the article under study, the writers, Chen & Fletcher (2007) point out how cultural differences force international firms and corporations make immediate alterations in their strategies in order to combat with the prevailing cultural and regional divergences observed by the individuals belonging to one specific society or region. The case under study focuses upon the problems faced by a well-established and renowned Australia-based sheep exporting and meat processing company under the title â€Å"Samex†, which has been involved into a business transaction with the Middle East businessmen and corporations for the last few decades. The Australian company launched its business on the foundations of international rules and values but had to undergo ethical dilemma in the Arab countries due to the prevailing contradictory values. Consequently, it had to revise its business scheme while conducting the business in that region.   Cultural differences can be estimated on the basis of Hofstede’s index of cultural divergence, which describes variation in the cultural patterns of different societies. For example, people living in advanced countries give priority to individual achievements, while in developing countries people are bound in the tie of â€Å"we† feelings and collectivism.   The Middle East refuses to accept any product that carries even the slightest sign of deformity, low quantity or defect.