HuffPost: "Don't Declare War on Hurricane Victims"
Tags: huffington post, federal aidThe "war" in question involves not giving aid to people who've been convicted of drug crimes:
Federal laws prohibit former drug law offenders from obtaining welfare, food stamps, public housing, financial aid for schools and other benefits for themselves and their families. While it is impossible to know for sure how many hurricane victims will be denied public assistance because of drug convictions, it could be in the tens of thousands.
Needless to say, Ethan Nadelmann ("founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance") is against this policy. In fact:
Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced legislation last week that would temporarily suspend federal laws that prevent hurricane victims with drug convictions from receiving public assistance. His legislation, entitled the "Elimination of Barriers for Katrina Victims Act," is co-sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS).
Do we have laws like this for a reason? Yes. While there might be grandstanding involved, it's in our society's best interests not to have a drugged-up citizenry. While I might be inclined to support this measure, I have a couple of questions.
First, words like "Conyers" and "Frank", not to mention "Lee" and "Jackson Lee" scare the heck out of me. While Ron Paul partially counteracts those scary names, I still get the idea there's something very wrong with this legislation.
Second, what is being done to enforce our society's best interests in avoiding that drugged-up citizenry? Do those who will have their aid restored have to do something? Pass a drug test? Attend (real) counseling? Or, is this something that will just end up making drug abuse - and thus poverty - even worse?
