This could be interesting...

Question:
Should our elected officials & those running for public office be subject to mandatory drug testing???

Choices:
Yes
No

 

It might be a good idea since so many other jobs are giving mandatory drug tests, but I'm kinda hesitant to say yes. It depends on what would be the outcome if they test positive. It could be the end of politics, as we know it.

As with any job, I think the answer to this question depends on the type of drug in question and whether their use of it interferes with their ability to do their job. If they test positive for an illegal drug (whether I personally think the drug should be illegal or not), then they are breaking the law and should be punished accordingly. But if they test positive for alcohol or a prescription drug they obtained legally or opium because they ate poppy seed bread, well, that is a different story.

Also, public office -especially the presidency- is more than just a 40-hour-week job. You could be called into action at any time, and your recreational use of any sort of drug might then unexpectedly interfere with your ability to perform in a way it wouldn’t if you were a secretary or security guard or even a teacher.

And public officials should be held to a higher standard than the general public, because they are our political voice and are in the public eye so often.

I’m not sure that I feel drug testing should be mandatory. These are just my thoughts in general.

quote:

It could be the end of politics, as we know it.

And that might not be a bad thing.

Why? Have any of the presidential candidates put on a lot of bulk since first being in politics?

Why would we want to discourage our elected officials from using "performance enhancing" drugs?? Sounds counter-productive to me.

Great point, frank

Many government jobs require drug testing. Government contractors are often required to test their employees. I think our elected officials should be subject to drug testing if only to let them know they are not above the law.

quote:

Originally posted by coldfuse:
Great point, frank

Many government jobs require drug testing. Government contractors are often required to test their employees. I think our elected officials should be subject to drug testing if only to let them know they are not above the law.

It's amazing how government requires employees in certain industries to submit to periodic drug testing. Yet I would have to wonder how many politicians would squalk & raise hell if they were required to do the same...