Since Florida is now requiring all welfare recipients to test for use of illicit drugs, the question “How fair it is that welfare recipients be tested for drug use?” was asked on every network news panel, radio show and blog-talk radio show this week. Even Lisa Ling posted the question for her tweeps to respond to on Twitter.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been too concerned with whether or not food stamp recipients should be drug tested as much as I have been puzzled by why many of them stand in front of me in line at the grocery store, their Georgia Peach Cards in hand, a shopping cart full of more groceries than I could afford in a month, bragging on their Gucci purses and Droid 2 phones, talking about how fun the club was, while high-fiving their best girlfriend with their freshly manicured two-inch designer nails.

Do I sound a little salty? Well, I guess I am. I mean I work 80-plus hours a week. I am wearing clothes from the Goodwill (Y’all better get hip to it. You can find some nice things in there) and these chicks don’t even look like they’re struggling at all. I can’t get $40 in food stamps for me and my three kids when times get hard, but my tax dollars are good enough to help free up their money and time so they can buy and do whatever they want.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Despite my hard feelings on the subject, Florida’s actions beg for discourse and a microscoped review. The Florida ACLU claimed the new procedure was an “ugly legitimacy to an unfortunate stereotype that has been in this country for a couple of decades – that all welfare recipients are a bunch of drug abusers.”

The state’s Governor Rick Scott defended the action by saying “It’s not right for taxpayer money to be paying for somebody’s drug addiction. And … “On top of that, this is going to increase personal responsibility, personal accountability.” As a former welfare recipient who worked hard to get out of the system and feels that everyone should strive – with vigor – to get off the welfare train, I must say that I am not a supporter of Florida’s new law.

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For one, it seems to violate the fourth amendment rights given to all people, whether on welfare or not. Since when has getting a little extra help justified “unreasonable search and seizure”? I didn’t see any corporate C.E.O.s being lined up for pee tests after the federal government bailed out their companies. We all know they’ve been known to do a little recreational drug usage themselves. Just look for powder marks on their dress suits. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the ACLU claims are missing the mark a little as well. There are many stereotypes that have been associated with welfare recipients in this country. The drug abuse “one” only touches the surface. There are also the ideas that all those in the system are lazy, primarily black or immigrant, uneducated and un-wed. While there may have been some truth to this – and I say that with tongue in cheek – these figures have changed dramatically over the years.

Since the economy plunged, there have been countless stories of college-educated, working, middle class people and couples of all races, living under the poverty line (much like blacks have been historically) and needing a little extra help.They would be subject to these drug tests, too. Don’t you think having to get on welfare in the first place is a heavy enough burden for them to carry without them having to be treated like a drug addict? I do.

So even though it burns me up inside to see young women dressed in flashy clothing or pajamas – because they’ve obviously been asleep all day – I don’t think we need to spend more of our tax dollars collecting yellow liquid in plastic cups from people already having a difficult time in life. What we need to be doing is what Scott said – only turned around. That is … HOLDING ALL PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. Instead of checking for drugs, let’s start checking more thoroughly for ABUSE – in general. If an applicant walks into a welfare office with new jewelry, high-priced electronics or new kicks every time they come in for a case review, let’s send a red flag and start doing a further review as to whether or not they really need the assistance.

Written By: Frenchi Jones