Name:   copperline - Subject:   WSFA Editorial Date:   1/18/2013 9:26:14 PM

              The Editorial is absolutely right, Alabama has been slashing funding dramatically, closing down state hospitals, reducing funding for indigent care of all kinds, cutting back on funds for outpatient mental health clinics….  this has been going on for years.  i’m glad to read that people are in favor of increasing services (and funding) to mental health programs. There are a lot of people who need the help.   

              But doing something to improve mental health programs costs money.  And Conservative groups have been very effective in slashing the budgets of all the state agencies, especially those who administer the so-called “entitlement programs”.    Government welfare spending has been described as synonymous with economic disruption and ruin for a long time.   The state of Alabama now barely meets its obligations because of the discrepancy between tax revenue and spending needs.  i would think Georgia has similar concerns.      Entitlement programs like this have been roundly cited on this forum as wasteful giveaways to the undeserving, maybe now that this elementary school shooting has put mental illness into sharper public focus we can all agree that we could improve treatment for the mentally ill, and for society in general.     i’d be glad to see that change.    

              However, it’s not going to be possible to continue to squeeze down on State Budgets while also squeezing down on Federal dollars from Washington and refusing to raise taxes anywhere.     Where would you want increased funding to come from to pay for better mental health services?

              i’M ALL FOR iMPROViNG MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.  But we’re going to have to pay for it.