It was the 9th Circuit Court that outlawed that sort of thing, backed up by the US Supreme Court when they refused to hear an appeal. In closing such programs for the mentally ill, Mr. Reagan was merely obeying court orders.

Nothing he could have done about it! Except maybe appoint federal judges with more common sense, rather than those that create their own fanciful laws to suit themselves. But last I checked, Governors didn't get to do that. Still Don't. And no recent (last 20+ years) presidential court appointee has shown even half the common sense of a gnat, so it ain' gonna get better soon.



I am also reminded of the know-it-alls in Berserkley, none of whom had any real expertise, who got electroconvulsive therapy outlawed (only in Berkeley of course). But that was where the only hospital was in NorCal, that was equipped to do it. And sometimes that is the only treatment that actually works for some very depressed people. And depression is the number one cause of suicide.

I knew someone who needed that kind of therapy every 5-10 years or so. It always worked very well, and very quickly, alleviating much suffering and lasted for years. Though he never became suicidal, he did suffer very intensely when it overtook him. And these jackals interfered with him getting the treatment he needed, just because THEY didn't agree with it.

So actually, some extremist think-they-know-everything political doo-goooders actually made things much worse. With all of the above, we shouldn't be so surprised at the dramatic increase in suicide.

So as the man said - We are an enlightened bunch alright!