"Tom Betz" wrote in message
. 70...
Quoth "Mark S. Holden" in
:


I realize it's a delicate problem, but really, the people who
changed
the laws in the name of patients rights did them a disservice.

A lot of those who changed the laws ostensibly in the name of
patient's
rights were really doing it to cut the cost to state governments of
providing
services to the mentally ill.

It's cheaper to let them die on the streets.


Aside from the overly cynical last sentence, I don't have any reason
to believe that this isn't correct in part. But the bottom line is
that the significant initiative that put these people on the streets
came from so-called "advocates" for the individuals themselves--true
believers who considered it more "just" that they be freed from
institutional confines. Yet another burden from the bad ideas of the
well-intentioned.