From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Fri Sep 08 2000 - 10:14:26 MDT
QueeneMUSE@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 9/8/2000 6:21:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> d.broderick@english.unimelb.edu.au writes:
>
> >
> > And the rise in homeless in Oz has been attributed to the conservative
> > govt's growing crackdown on dole benefits, and closures of services.
> >
> Dole means welfare right?
> Speaking for Los Angeles, which has millions of homeless... Los Angeles is
> not worse after welfare reform, which has actually been beneficial... most
> forms of welfare actually makes things worse here, IMO ...but in the early
> 80's when 'governor' Reagan's closed 70% of state run mental health
> hospitals due to 'properety tax cuts' - shit hit the fan!
>
> The effect of this tax cut was good for suburban property holders, and caused
> a temporary prosperity surge, but it made it *really* bad for
> renters/business owners in *cities* who suddenly had thousands of mentally
> ill people thrust upon them, unmedicated with no shelter. It was an ugly
> sight.
I was under the impression that the state mental health hospitals were mandated
by a court ruling to discharge anyone who was not a danger to themselves or
others while medicated, that the Reagan administration essentially was
fulfilling this court order that the states were resisting...
Not that I think this may have not been a good idea, mind you, but as I recall
Reagan got the blame for what was essentially an ACLU action.
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