Imprisoning the Mentally Ill

Great article by the New York Times on how we, as a society, have turned back the clock to the 1800's by incarcerating the mentally ill. I seem to remember that Ronald Reagan was the President that emptied all the mental hospitals in what he deemed a "cost-saving move."

I'm beyond Obamacare. I'm for socialized medicine based upon Canada's model and free psychiatric medicine for all schizophrenics and manic-depressives. The mentally ill should not have to pay a dime to get the pills they need. I think it is in the clear self-interest of society that they get that help. I think that in the long run, it is cheaper to help all members of the working class achieve soundness of mind and body. Republicans on the other hand feel we should just let crazy run amok with loaded guns.

Obamacare was a nice baby step toward socialized medicine, but it's not good enough. It is the result of a compromise with right-wingers in Congress who have sold out to the insurance industry. Employers are saddled with health care costs. I don't really feel that an employer should foot the bill for health care. Instead, the nation as a whole should foot the bill. The government is ultimately responsible for health and safety anyway. The government controls the roads and seas, runs the military and police, and even provides social security and food stamps. Health care is a natural extension of an already existing prerogative. If we simply follow in the footsteps of the other Western powers and implement socialized medicine, we will eliminate the chief objection raised by small business owners. Even poor old Cuba manages to make socialized medicine work, so I'm sure that America can.