All arguments about government's role in caring for human beings touch on this question. If government won't care for the mentally retarded, the mentally ill, the gravely disabled-if the government won't help these people-then who will?
Their families? That's great if they have such families--but what if they don't?
2007-11-13 17:28:34 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
They should be adopted by "Compassionate Conservatives",...perhaps the same one's who gave our budget surplus to the rich, while raiding the Social Security funds.
Back in the day,(as you youngsters like to say), each county and state maintained "Homes", where displaced and helpless people could find food, housing, and medical care. Even though a lot of the 'wards' were seriously alcoholic, when their binge was through, or when they got bizarre enough to come in conflict with the law, they had a place to dry out, and maybe work a bit, Severely mentally ill people, who were a danger to themselves or others were commited to local asylums, where they got treatment, or at least good drugs.
Restoring such homes, would return responsibility for the lost souls to their local region, and being supported by local taxes should get some of our taxes back from Washington.
2007-11-13 18:09:09 · answer #1 · answered by thehermanator2003 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a much more complicated problem than just money. Many of mentally ill are not living with their families because they are impossible to live with when not on medication, and many will not voluntary take it because it has unpleasant side effects. For the same reason they are not in institutions, because they can not live with each other unmediated, and the courts have ruled that they have a right not to be kept against their will and medicated, unless they are dangerous. I can not say that I really disagree with the courts decision. Most receive SIS so they have enough money to live, but are too disorganized to really take care of themselves. The disabled and retarded are usually cared for either by families or state institutions.
2007-11-14 05:07:54 · answer #2 · answered by meg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well.. since our social values have evolved past survival of the fittest.. they become wards of the state.. so to speak.
2007-11-14 01:35:28 · answer #3 · answered by pip 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Send them to live at Al Gore's house.
2007-11-14 01:44:44 · answer #4 · answered by Realist 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋