[ExI] A Small Request [was Re: Impressive book: Farewell toAlms]

[spike]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org 
> [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of 
> Olga Bourlin
...
> 
> 
> > Olga did you mean the Lanterman-Petris-Short years?
> >
> > http://www.claytoncramer.com/mental.htm
> 
> >From what I read (and remember!), during the years when 
> Ronald Reagan 
> >was
> governor of California (1967-74) a huge number of people from 
> state mental hospitals were let out.
> 
> Then, in the 1980s, when Reagan was president, the 
> de-institutionalization of mentally ill people continued nationally.
> 
> Olga 

Ja, but saying it that way makes it sound like a court decision was
something over which Reagan had influence, analogous to saying the Miami
Dolphins did well under Nixon (as opposed to Don Shula.)  The courts decided
that those "let out" were being illegally held in mental institutions
against their will.  I agree most would have been better off staying, and
some did.  But assuming they had committed no actual crime, it is their
choice to make, even if mentally ill.

spike