In article ,
 Josh Hill  wrote:


> OTOH, while I can't give figures, most of the homeless people I've
> seen or known are drug addicts or dumped mental patients. The latter
> need help. One of the cruelties of post-Reagan America is that these
> people were dumped from mental institutions but weren't provided with
> the support they needed to survive on the outside. It isn't just the
> Reagan Republicans who are to blame here: a flock of civil liberties
> lawyers defends those who should be institutionalized from the care
> they need. The result of this neglect can be tragic -- addiction,
> imprisonment, death.
  They weren't provided for prior to RR, but that is another thread 
altogether. I would (as much as it pains me-grin) have to agree with you 
on the latter. The Supremes have actually said that there is a 
constitutional right to refuse medications (I call it a Psychiatric 
Miranda--- You have the right to remain crazy). MOST of the mentally ill 
homeless that I worked with in a Big City Psych Street team were 
well-known to our inpatient system because they were frequent flyers who 
got better, got released (with follow-up in place) and then chose to not 
continue with treatment. Having worked with this population, I am not at 
all sure how much of difference any cuts would have made unless there is 
a way to compel participation.
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32