Essay Sample on Mandatory Drug Testing

đź“ŚCategory: Social Issues
đź“ŚWords: 926
đź“ŚPages: 4
đź“ŚPublished: 23 February 2022

A witch hunt is when a person or a group of people is unfairly judged, accused, or blamed for something by society. During the 17th-century witch hunts were literal. Many women in Salem, Massachusetts were being accused and blamed for being witches without any real evidence. Unfortunately, witch hunts still happen in our society. Today’s witch hunts may not be literal, but there are many other issues that could be considered modern-day witch hunts. One example is a 2011 news article about a mandatory drug testing law for all people applying for welfare in Florida. This article highlights a modern-day witch hunt and connects with Miller’s The Crucible because the law violates the rights of the poor and unfairly labels them as drug addicts, just as the women in Salem were falsely accused and blamed for being witches. 

In the article, the law states that all people who apply for welfare must take a mandatory drug test. This law is like a modern-day witch hunt because it labels all needy people as possible drug addicts. They are being treated guilty before there is any evidence. The drug testing law also infringes on the rights of the people. The Executive Director of the ACLU Howard Simon said, “I work for the ACLU and it’s our job to prevent trampling on the constitutional rights of people. The Constitution mandates that searches cannot be conducted without probable cause.” (CNN Wire 2). Here, the notion of a witch hunt is highlighted by the fact that the law violates the Fourth Amendment. According to the Constitution, the Fourth Amendment states that the government can’t search a person without probable cause. Many people believe that this should also include mandatory drug testing by the government. There is no probable cause or evidence against these people, so the drug testing is unconstitutional.  The law is also prejudiced against people who need help from the government. Florida representative Alcee Hastings said, “If Governor Scott wants to drug test recipients of TANF benefits, where does he draw the line? Are families receiving Medicaid, state emergency relief, or educational loans and grants next?” (CNN Wire 2). The governor is enforcing a law that is basically like a witch hunt because he is assuming that all people who need welfare or help from the government are on drugs. This negative stereotype is discriminating and unfounded.

This article connects with The Crucible because the women in the play are being targeted just like the people who are applying for welfare in Florida. Both groups of people are being assumed guilty before there is any proof. In The Crucible, the judge is only relying on the words of other people. There is no real proof that the women are witches. In Act II, John Proctor says, “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law.” (Miller 81). He is trying to show that the lies the children are telling are controlling people’s lives and whether they live or die. This is similar to the drug testing law because there may be no evidence that these people are on drugs, but they are being treated as if they are. In order to receive help from the government, they must prove they are innocent. In The Crucible, Reverend Hale says, “Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” (Miller 104). He is trying to explain that people’s lives and reputations are at stake, and he can’t keep sentencing people to death without real proof that they are guilty. The same kind of blame and judgement is seen in The Crucible and the mandatory drug testing law because both groups of people are being suspected of a crime and wrongfully accused.



 

On the other hand, there are people who believe that drug testing people who apply for welfare is necessary. The Governor of Florida said, “It’s not right for taxpayer money to be paying for someone’s drug addiction. On top of that, this is going to increase personal responsibility, personal accountability. We shouldn’t be subsidizing people’s addiction.” (CNN Wire 1). This perspective is valid because it is important to know that the money is being used to help families and children and not on drugs. Drug testing people who apply for welfare can make sure this happens. Mandatory drug testing could also help people stay off drugs. Knowing that they will be drug tested before they can receive welfare might give people the incentive to stop using and get clean. The law may be able to help control how welfare money is spent, but it is still unconstitutional and violates the Fourth amendment. The government has no right to search a person without a valid reason. Just because these people are poor doesn’t mean that they don’t have the same constitutional rights as everyone else.

In conclusion, the mandatory drug testing law for all people applying for welfare can be seen from two different points of view. Some people argue that the law is unfair and unconstitutional. They also feel like it stereotypes people who are poor and in need as drug users. There are also other people who believe the law is very important for personal accountability and that drug testing needs to happen to make sure that the welfare money is being spent on children and families and not on drugs. This topic is important because this law shows that modern-day witch hunts still take place in our country. This is just one example of how people are still being treated unfairly, judged, and blamed for things by society.  It is interesting that just two years after the law was passed, a federal judge ruled that the Florida mandatory drug testing law is unconstitutional and was banned.

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