Re: dad campaigns to stop school drug testing

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 03:31:10 GMT, dragonlady
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> Andy Katz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>> This is the saddest damn thing . . . not to mention completely
>> inaccurate.
>> 
>> Andy Katz
>
>Sad? -- yes
>Inaccurate? -- no
>
>There are a growing number of jobs that do drug testing when they hire 
>you (including, for example, Target) and even more where you have to 
>sign to agree to random drug testing if you want the job.

Absolutely, true, yes. Particularly in entry-level jobs, the sort that
probably inspire drug use as alternative to mind-numbing boredom--if
only they paid enough to afford drugs;-)

But look at the girl's comment again: 'that's the way *life* is...' as
though drug testing were as inevitable or intrinsically a part of life
as first impressions, or love, or death, or the need to eat. 

Drug testing exists because of the Reagan administration promoted it,
and various entrepreneurs sell it to corporations as a cheap way to
increase productivity and reduce healthcare costs. Does it really do
these things? I don't know. But the statistical failure of primary and
secondary drug education programs such as DARE suggests that the
economic efficacy of drug testing is greatly exaggerated. And without
the economic argument, drug testing becomes just another senseless
intrusion, its real motive to demonstrate to potential workers that
even their bodies and the things they do while not at work are subject
to regulation by an employer.

Had the girl stated her belief  in the economic or safety aspect of
drug testing, I'd still might disagree, but I wouldn't have been sad.

We have a population that believes that Saddam was the architect of
9/11, that Reagan defeated Libya, and now, that workplace drug testing
is part of *life* and not simply a money-maker for people who sell
testing and rehab services. 

>I hated it, but when it was a choice between feeding my kids and not, I 
>signed the damned paper.  DH has had to pee in a cup for most of the 
>jobs he's gotten since he got out of grad school -- and he's a PhD, so 
>it isn't just the lower level jobs, either.

I'm sorry to hear you had to make that choice. I suppose I've been
lucky ... thus far.

Andy Katz
____________________________________
I sentence you to kiss my ass!

                    The Simpsons


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