Mexico: Suggestion that all lawmakers take drug test sets off stampede for the door

[Are_grits_groceries]

Reporting from Culiacan, Mexico -- Yudit del Rincon, a 44-year-old lawmaker, went before the state legislature this year with a proposition: Let's require lawmakers to take drug tests to prove they are clean.

Her colleagues greeted the idea with applause. Then she sprang a surprise on them: Two lab technicians waited in the audience to administer drug tests to every state lawmaker. We should set the example, she said.

They nearly trampled one another in the stampede to the door, Del Rincon recalled.

Del Rincon wasn't all that shocked. She was born and bred here in the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa, home of the drug racket's top leaders, its most talented impresarios and some of its dirtiest government and police officials.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-drugwar28-2008dec28,0,6322674.story

LOL!! I know this is a sad state of affairs, but I wish someone would pull some stunt like this in
the House and Senate.

[Lisa0825]

1. LOL! I can believe it!

My ex-bf's sister is a former congresswoman in Mexico, and he and his sister joked about weed being Mexico's "fifth food group."

[Donnachaidh]

2. That should be implemented HERE

You don't want drunk drivers on the road -- are they less of a hazard working in Congress or the Senate?

Personally, I think a piss test for ALL government officials who want health care should be done DAILY. Forget that cup of coffee senator -- here's a cup for you to piss in.

[High Plains]

3. I hope you aren't serious.

Random suspicionless drug testing of government employees is unconstitutional (with a few safety-related occupations excepted), and that is as it should be. If you are concerned about impairment, test for impairment, not metabolites.

[ljm2002]

4. Usually I would agree with your position...

...; however, in the case of our esteemed "lawmakers", I'd like to see them adhere strictly to the laws they put in place for the rest of us. Since they are always so eager to take the position that there must be zero tolerance of any "drugs" (i.e. anything they deem to be a drug, however innocuous it may be overall), I do think they should set the example in a proactive way. Yes, let's have random drug tests in the House and Senate. I think it's a smashing idea.

Well okay, it might backfire. We might end up getting only prudes and those unimaginative sorts who would never dare to experiment with anything. I'll grant you that. But as political theater, it would be very entertaining. And it might have an educational effect on those citizens who actually believe the tripe our elected officials spew forth every election season...

[ret5hd]

5. What is a more "safety-related occupation" than those that decide policy,...

decide when to go to war, decide how much melamine, benzene, and pesticides in our food and water is OK, etc etc etc.

Really, though, I agree with you.

[Fumesucker]

6. So it's unconstitutional for government employees..

And perfectly fine for the rest of us?

Keep in mind that it is government policy (set by politicians) that is forcing a great many people into workplace drug testing, if these drugs were not made illegal there would be no reason to test for them.

[kath]

7. It's not considered unconstitutional - it's done all the time, in ALL SORTS of occupations, not just

safety-related ones.
(I think it *should* be considered unconstitutional, but apparently it's not. Husband is a lab scientist, and his is a "drug-free workplace" under some bullshit law passed in the 80S or 90s. He had to take a piss test when he started his job.)

[mopinko]

15. retail jobs

i have seen signs in bed bath and beyond, target, and mcdonalds stating that they are "drug-free workplaces"

[notadmblnd]

10. if I have to take one to get a job, they should too.

[katsy]

13. Agree. But,

can we hook them up to lie detectors instead? At least while they are in session or on the floor debating.

Pretty please?

[Donnachaidh]

16. when the average american worker is hit with random, suspicionless testing all the time

Yes -- I think THEY should be subjected to the same.

And I think the very fact that they work to write laws and implement programs that can possibly detrimentally effect my kid's future, as well as my own -- You Betcha they should be tested.

When did the Constitution become important to our representatives? Especially after 9/11?

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. kick

[mike_c]

9. I wish they'd stop worrying about who gets high and do something productive...

...instead. Here, I mean. Stop the stupid war on drugs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Any politician suggesting such a thing in congress would have to be drunk and/or loaded.

More than they usually are.

[lib2DaBone]

12. All Government Supervisors should be tested DAILY.. for drugs .

That includes Alcohol, cocaine, caffein, Lunesta, Prosac, Viagra, Cialas, Nicotene, sugar. The Supervisors are out of control.. not the workers.....

[psychmommy]

14. i do drug testing on my job.

you would think they would test me. they claim random drug tests are taken but, it is only if there is a suspicion of drug use. i am clean and would be concerned that any of my prescriptions test false positive, ie protonix- acid reflux drug can produce a false positive-i can't remember for what but it almost got one of my client's in trouble. if i can be tested, they should be tested.