http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters/story/1566995.html
Published: Jun 13, 2009 02:00 AM
Modified: Jun 12, 2009 07:26 PM
Pop-up expenses
When I consider the way North Carolina historically manages mental health care services and expenses, I am reminded of a county carnival. I see our legislators standing at the Whack the Gopher game with a rubber mallet, furiously punching away at various gophers (expenses), such as the Psychiatric Hospital gopher, the Community Support gopher, the Homeless Gopher and the Prison/Jail Gopher. As soon as they knock one down, sure 'nuf another pops up.
When will they ever learn that they cannot save money by denying services to people with mental illness? The expenses will only pop up as another gopher somewhere else. Compliments of the "reform," we know the effects of cutting services. Our prisons, ERs and the homeless populations are reeling from hospital and community service cuts already. That doesn't even take into account the human suffering. What are they thinking?
Diane Bauknight,
Fletcher
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