Irony
Posted By Russ Emerson on May 23, 2003 at 6:09 pm
You could call it an unintended consequence. The sad state of the treatment of the mentally ill in this country (largely due to the meddling of the ACLU and the politically-motivated brainless positions of organizations like the APA) leads to events like this one happening every day. Of course, it’s only considered newsworthy when the irony is overwhelming.
Members of the nation’s largest psychiatric association discovered San Francisco’s mentally ill homeless problem up close this week, as they stepped out of their annual convention and were surprised — some say shocked — by the legions of people living on the street.
I’m shocked – shocked! – to hear of mental patients on the streets! I wonder who put them there?
The worst, however, came when an official of the American Psychiatric Association, a Baltimore doctor known for being an advocate for the indigent mentally ill, was assaulted by an apparently homeless man with a history of psychiatric problems.
Thus enters the irony. “Advocate for the indigent mentally ill”? What exactly does this doctor advocate? I’ll wager that the short list of causes she advocates would include free needle exchanges, bigger cash welfare payouts, and taxpayer-funded “halfway” housing.
I’ll further wager that her list doesn’t include what would actually be best for some of these unfortunate people: institutionalization.