If Reagan had not emptied the mental institutions.

[Duncanpup]

Would there even be a Republican Party. Just read that online.

[betsuni]

2. And?

Last edited Thu Aug 17, 2023, 07:07 AM - Edit history (1)

What does that mean?

[rubbersole]

3. magats have been around breeding among us...

..never having been institutionalized. They're just marrying each other after bowling alley sex ed classes. Then getting elected to congress.

[wnylib]

4. The problem was NOT in emptying mental institutions.

The problem was in not following up with outpatient care and assimilation to society. They were just dumped and left to fend.

Some mental health patients in institutions did not belong there at all. Their conditions were manageable but family and friends did not want to be bothered. Some, especially women, were institutionalized as ill for not following social conventions, but posed no threat to themselves or society - other than being unconventional. Some women were dumped in institutions by husbands who wanted to be rid of them.

Those who needed close supervision, daily medication, job training, and follow up treatment did not get it. They ended up on the streets, or bouncing from job to job and address to address with no stability in their lives.

Reagan and succeeding Republicans cut more and more services for mental health care. The situation grew worse for people who became society's throwaways.

And yes, some of them probably are MAGAs, if they pay attention to politics all.

But the tone of the OP seems equally cold and dismissive of the mentally ill. They are people, with basic human rights and with needs that are not being met. Society is reaping the consequences of neglect.

[raccoon]

7. Great post, especially your part about people, mainly women, being institutionalized when they

really didn't need to be--husbands wanted to be rid of them, etc.

[Tree-Hugger]

8. +1 nt

Great post.

[Scottie Mom]

11. Thank you for this post! EOM

[appalachiablue]

12. ++ Truth, very well described. Closure of institutions was initiated by Calif. Gov. Reagan & Co.

and the program went national. But the plan was a racket, a scam. Proposed community centers for people in need weren't implemented and funds for community based homes were drained by real estate companies, if I have this right. A tragic con job that's led to years of crisis.

[Kaleva]

5. Reagan repealed the The Mental Health Systems Act of 1980

Which President Carter had signed into law in 1980. Reagan was able to repeal many the law's provisions in 1981.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 which defunded mental health institutions, passed the Senate 80-14 and the House 232-193.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/97th-congress/house-bill/3982/all-actions?q=%7B%22roll-call-vote%22%3A%22all%22%7D

Carter's Patient Bill of Rights, a provision of the Mental Health Systems Act, was not repealed. This law made it much harder to institutionalize patients and keep them institutionalized against their will. Because of this law, many patients in mental health institutions who did not want to be there were discharged.

[former9thward]

22. How was Reagan able to repeal the law?

Only Congress can change federal laws.

[Kaleva]

24. And the president signs it into law

f you read my post, you'll see that I mentioned the role Congress played in gutting the Act.

[former9thward]

25. Here is the point.

1) The ACLU filed a series of lawsuits in the mid 1970s to end involuntary mental health holds. They were successful. They proudly detail their role on their website. https://www.aclu.org/documents/aclu-history-mental-institutions

2) Reagan was a long, long time ago. If states or the federal government wanted to reverse whatever Reagan did they could have. They don't want to.

[Kaleva]

26. What you said doesn't contradict what I said

I mentioned how the Senate and House voted. And I mentioned it was Carter, not Reagan, who signed into law the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980.

[Old Crank]

6. Just how do Christians

Support the republican party and its abject cruelty?

[wnylib]

13. We don't.

[Skittles]

16. because they're "christians"

it's all bullshit, just a matter of degree

[czarjak]

18. With ease.

[Mariana]

29. Don't make the mistake of thinking the word "Christian" means "a good person".

It clearly does not mean that.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Conflating mental illness with a political belief is gross.

[Skittles]

15. people who believe Trump is someone of value

there is some kind of mental disconnect going on

[WhiskeyGrinder]

17. Being a bigoted, ignorant, amoral person is not a mental illness. Some real soviet-style thinking

going on here and it's horrifying to watch. People who suffer from mental illness such that they can't live on their own are some of the most vulnerable and oppressed in this country, and mocking them interchangeably with Republicans is deeply disturbing.

[Skittles]

19. you're right

still, there has to be some kind of mass psychosis going on - nothing about Trump and his admirers is in any way connected to reality - it's like they live in in alternate universe

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Hey, thanks for reconsidering.

nothing about Trump and his admirers is in any way connected to reality - it's like they live in in alternate universe

We've been saying this for eight years, when it's really pretty simple: People like what he says, and believing him, whether what he says is irrational or hateful or bigoted, makes them feel secure or powerful or like they're "getting back at" people they feel have wronged them. That's a powerful force.

[Mopar151]

10. Not as it exists today.

Reagan's attacks on "welfare queens", unions, and the mentally ill are just examples of how a certain kind of cruelty is seen by some as a normal and necessary part of life.

" It had to be done."

[edisdead]

20. Cruelty, especially male cruelty...

Cruelty, especially male cruelty has been becoming a desirable quality for the last 6 decades or more.

Manliness has been conflated with being an asshole. Not just being tough but being an asshole who could kick the shit out of anyone they deem to be lesser is an attractive quality somehow.

Fucking gross. Being a “Badass” is all that matters.

[LuckyCharms]

28. This statement should be plastered on billboards:

"Manliness has been conflated with being an asshole. Not just being tough but being an asshole who could kick the shit out of anyone they deem to be lesser is an attractive quality somehow".

Well done.

[Mopar151]

30. That's not a Badass, it's more like a horses ass!

I've known several real life Badasses. Most were intelligent, one way or another, and anything but belligerent.. This doesn't mean that cowards aren't dangerous! Fear is not a logical emotion, it's an impetus to act out and make bad choices!

[NowISeetheLight]

23. Homelessness

Looking at the homeless crisis I often wonder what it would be like if they hadn't basically opened the doors and let people out with no support.

[UTUSN]

27. This.