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I've attended a couple of meetings of the Ramsey
County Mental Health Advisory Committee. I just wanted to tell all of you,
I have never met more courageous and admirable people in my life than some of
the people I have met in the short time I have been working with this
committee.
At the last committee meeting we discussed the
impact some of the legislative cuts were having on the people sitting around the
table. People talked about having to make decisions about whether or not
to go to the doctor or get their medication or buy food because now they have to
pay copays. When a person lives on $400-650 those copays can add up really
quick. Why would the legislature want to balance the budget by taking
advantage of some of the most vulnerable in society?
Oh yeah, and do you know that MN DOT is
spending lots of money to put some triangle thingies under bridges and
stuff? It's their way of solving the homeless problem. It's supposed
to prevent the homeless from staying under there and keeping warm. Now
wouldn't it make more sense if that money was spent on homeless
shelters?
Met a couple of guys this week that are totally
disabled because of schizophrenia, ADD, and other disorders. One has a
full time job, the other has a part time job. The one with a full time job
voluntarily gave up his disability pay from social security. He makes
enough to get by. The courage of these two guys to survive is
amazing. Makes a person want to cry.
I've been working with some families who have a
family member that is mentally ill. These families get so frustrated
because the help they need isn't out there. Or if it is, waiting lists are
long and it is months or years before their family member will be able to get
the help they need.
Anyway, I just wanted to say, I don't want to hear
anything about personal responsibility anymore. If anyone has any personal
responsibility it is us. We need to take care of the most vulnerable in
society. We are doing a very poor job of it right now. And we keep
cutting back each year.
I am just amazed some have managed to hold
on. That won't always be the case, of course. When a crisis hits and
doctor and hospital copays start adding up and there is no money for food, they
won't be able to hold on. But the state budget will look better?
Renee Jenson
Como
Ren�e Jenson
754 Idaho Ave W. St. Paul, MN 55117 (651) 699-1810 cell (612) 759-1809 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.FreeAgentAssociation.com |
