What's Good for the Goose...

…is good for the gander.

Want government assistance? Just say no to drugs.

Lawmakers in at least eight states, including Florida, want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing.

The effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging people from seeking help and making desperate situations worse.

Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents' health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. Proponents concede they also want to send a message: You don't get something for nothing.

I'm sure these “poverty and civil rights activists” saw no problem with the gummint getting into Big Auto and Wall Street’s business when they took taxpayer cash but now have a problem with the same guidelines applying to their constituencies.

Guys, this is the classic method to deal with drug addicts by holding them accountable for their actions. The Air Force held me accountable for my actions many moons ago and that put me on the road to sobriety. And if you will turn down public assistance because you still want to get high then you have problems no amount of taxpayer cash can solve.