It’s a fact that some people are incapable of caring for themselves. It’s my opinion that when the person lacks a family willing or able to care for them, the state should step in and take responsibility for ensuring the person’s well being. Which brings us to this recent ruling in New York:
New York State must immediately begin moving thousands of people with mental illness into their own apartments or small homes and out of large, institutional adult homes that keep them segregated from society, a federal judge ordered on Monday.
On the face of it, it seems like a good idea – who isn’t for better care for the mentally ill? The problem, of course, is that it costs money. And when judges pass ruling that prohibit the state from caring for the mentally in a cost efficient manner, states looks to control costs by turning many of the borderline cases out onto the street. Take a trip through downtown Berkeley and you’ll see what I mean.