[Vision2020] How Many More Jared Loughners? America'sMentalHealth Crisis

[Tom Hansen]

Roger Falen iterates:

"Williams is the only comedian in the list."

Since WHEN has Montel Williams been a comedian???????????


He has been a television talk show host (google "Montel Williams Show")
and activist of several causes for quite a long time.

After graduating from the US Naval Academy, he went on to retire from the
navy with 22 years of service.

I could go into discussion of his several activities (none of which could
be labeled "comedy"), but I'll leave it up to youto simply browse:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montel_Williams

Please explain, Roger!

Or are yuo going to ignore this request for accountability like you have
so many times before?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho




On Mon, January 31, 2011 12:42 pm, lfalen wrote:
> I think that you are a little off base here. Williams is the only comedian
> in the list. You are just making excuses to justify your position.
> Roger
> -----Original message-----
> From: Joe Campbell philosopher.joe at gmail.com
> Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 08:39:57 -0800
> To: lfalen lfalen at turbonet.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] How Many More Jared Loughners?
> America'sMentalHealth Crisis
>
>> Again I didn't say that there weren't examples of inappropriate rhetoric
>> from the left; I said that there are MORE examples from the right than
>> the
>> left. And the examples are from folks who work at Fox NEWS or who are
>> candidates for public office, not comedians; they are examples of people
>> trying to get folks to vote one way or the other, not people telling
>> jokes.
>>
>> As for Obama, I already said that was WRONG. I don't have a problem with
>> telling folks on the left that they are sometimes wrong. It doesn't
>> excuse
>> Palin. In fact, it means she's wrong too.
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 10:47 AM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Bill Maher - " Why couldn't he have croaked fro it instead of Heath
>> Ledger"
>> > Ed Schultz- Lord take him to the Promised Land, Dick Cheney's heart is
>> a
>> > political football. We ought yo rip it out and kick it around and
>> stuff it
>> > back into him"
>> > Charles Bouley- About Tony Snow "How could a cancer not grow in you?
>> Work
>> > for Fox News.. and how could your guts not rot?"
>> > Montel Williams on Mechele Bachmanm "Slit your wrist. Go ahead.. Move
>> that
>> > knife up about two feet.O mean start at the collarbone".
>> > Obama- It they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun"
>> > Several commentators have said. Try Bush and Cheney for war crimes and
>> hang
>> > them"
>> > There have been very few comments on the right that have reached this
>> leave
>> > of hate. I personally do no think Obama's statement should be taken
>> > literally, as most of the statements on the right should not be. You
>> my be
>> > right about the level of notoriety of those on the left that make such
>> > statements, with the exception of William, Maher and Obama. Most of
>> these
>> > statements by the left were explicit calls for the death of someone.
>> > Everyone on both sides  uses military metaphors. These should not be
>> taken
>> > literally. While I would like to see a decrease in such language I do
>> do
>> > think that it can be blamed for the acts of someone like Loughner.
>> Violent
>> > Video games TV and Music that call for cops to be killed have much
>> more of
>> > an effect.
>> > Roger
>> > -----Original message-----
>> > From: Joe Campbell philosopher.joe at gmail.com
>> > Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:26:03 -0800
>> > To: lfalen lfalen at turbonet.com
>> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] How Many More Jared Loughners? America's
>> > MentalHealth Crisis
>> >
>> > > Fine, Roger. First, it is worth noting that Michael O'Neal is very
>> > > offensive. All of his articles are filled with anti-left bashing,
>> > > distortions of the truth, and over-the-top rhetoric. As several
>> Daily
>> > News
>> > > letters-to-the-editor have pointed out, his last column was guilty
>> of
>> > > exactly what he accused folks on the left of doing: exploiting a
>> tragic
>> > > situation for political gain.
>> > >
>> > > My point is that the right is worse than the left wrt the kinds of
>> things
>> > > Nick is talking about. I understand you disagree and that some on
>> the
>> > left
>> > > like to say "we're all to blame" but that strikes me as bunk. Folks
>> like
>> > > Rush, Beck, Palin, and others are far worse in this respect --
>> > > disrespectful, angry, hateful, distorted comments about their
>> political
>> > > opponents -- than any of the folks on the left. I'm not saying all
>> the
>> > blame
>> > > goes to the right. This is a comparative claim.
>> > >
>> > > Again, you're free to prove me wrong by illustrating the kinds of
>> > examples I
>> > > note below. I doubt you can do it but I'm willing to listen. But
>> there
>> > > really is no comparison.
>> > >
>> > > On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 6:16 PM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > I said nothing about any school. Nether did Nick for that matter.
>> He
>> > > > referred to Rush in particular. My comments were on the broad
>> spectum
>> > of the
>> > > > left vs right as were Micheal O'Neal's.
>> > > > Roger
>> > > > -----Original message-----
>> > > > From: Joe Campbell philosopher.joe at gmail.com
>> > > > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:54:56 -0800
>> > > > To: lfalen lfalen at turbonet.com
>> > > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] How Many More Jared Loughners? America's
>> > Mental
>> > > > Health Crisis
>> > > >
>> > > > > Every bit as violent? I'm sorry Roger but you're wrong. Name one
>> > school
>> > > > which has on the front page of it's website an example of the kind
>> of
>> > > > rhetoric that NSA has on it's website. Name one potential
>> Democratic
>> > > > candidate for president who had a poster like Palin's with
>> crosshairs
>> > > > designating Republican candidates. Name two liberal/progressive
>> radio
>> > talk
>> > > > show hosts who regularly portray Republicans as Nazis (or whatever
>> the
>> > > > rightwing equivalent of Communists is).
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Be honest, Roger. Of course you can find examples on both sides
>> but
>> > they
>> > > > are hardly equal in number or volume.
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On Jan 26, 2011, at 11:10 AM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>> wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > Nick
>> > > > > > I agree with you that we should take care of the mentally ill
>> and
>> > the
>> > > > disabled. I just wish  that you could find it in your heart to be
>> a
>> > little
>> > > > more even handed in parcelling out blame. As the Michael O'Neal
>> article
>> > > >  points out, the rhetoric coming from the left is every bit as
>> violent
>> > if
>> > > > not more so than that from the right. I personally think violent
>> video
>> > > > games, TV and rap music have more of an impact that that of
>> > politicians. I
>> > > > have seen research reports that say these things have no effect. I
>> > think
>> > > > something is wrong with their research. A constant bombardment of
>> these
>> > > > things can not help but deaden the senses. Particularly for the
>> > mentally
>> > > > unstable.
>> > > > > > Roger
>> > > > > > -----Original message-----
>> > > > > > From: nickgier at roadrunner.com
>> > > > > > Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:21:38 -0800
>> > > > > > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > > > > > Subject: [Vision2020] How Many More Jared Loughners? America's
>> > Mental
>> > > > Health Crisis
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> Dear Visionaries:
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Below is my radio commentary/column for this week.  The full
>> > version
>> > > > is attached.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Nick
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> HOW MANY MORE JARED LOUGHNERS? AMERICA’S MENTAL HEALTH
>> CRISIS
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Jared Loughner, the gunman who killed six and wounded 14 at a
>> > Tucson
>> > > > Safeway, has all the symptoms of someone who is mentally ill.
>> Even
>> > though
>> > > > anti-government rhetoric was found in his writings, many people
>> want us
>> > to
>> > > > believe that Loughner’s actions are exclusively those of a
>> deranged
>> > mind.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> In a heart-wrenching letter in the Daily News, a father wrote
>> > about
>> > > > his autistic son, who listens to Rush Limbaugh every day and sends
>> > > > frightening e-mails to his father. He confesses that he “can
>> easily see
>> > how
>> > > > Eric might decide to make himself instantly famous with the aid of
>> a
>> > gun.
>> > > >  Violent rhetoric can indeed have violent consequences.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Mental health professionals are reminding us that not all
>> those
>> > who
>> > > > have a mental disorder are violent individuals.  In fact, the
>> mentally
>> > ill
>> > > > are more often the targets of abuse not perpetrators.  It is
>> estimated
>> > that
>> > > > only 40,000 of 4 million mentally ill Americans can be considered
>> > violent> > >>
>> > > > > >> Loughner should have been referred to a mental health clinic,
>> but
>> > he
>> > > > most likely would not have received treatment.  In his own Pima
>> County
>> > 45
>> > > > percent of those in mental health programs were disenrolled in
>> 2009
>> > because
>> > > > of budget cuts.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> A 2007 study in the British medical journal The Lancet
>> estimated
>> > that
>> > > > 67 percent of Americans with mental disorders do not receive any
>> > treatment
>> > > > (vol. 370: 878-89).  As with other social and health
>> statistics—such a
>> > teen
>> > > > births and infant mortality—U.S. mental health care compares
>> with Third
>> > > > World countries.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Fox News’ psychiatrist Keith Ablow states that “in most
>> states,
>> > the
>> > > > mental health care delivery systems have been gutted by
>> > disproportionate
>> > > > cuts that leave them reeling, understaffed and unreliable.”
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Ablow also blames private health insurers “who routinely
>> deny
>> > > > comprehensive services (like hospitalization) to people, even if
>> they
>> > are
>> > > > psychotic and drug addicted and even if they have expressed very
>> > serious
>> > > > thoughts of violence.” But Ablow and his friend Glenn Beck
>> condemn the
>> > > > civilized world’s socialized medicine that offers much better
>> mental
>> > health
>> > > > coverage.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Republicans now control the House and the most state
>> legislatures
>> > > > ever, and they will make sure that economic inequality increases
>> and
>> > funding
>> > > > for social and health programs decreases.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> The GOP mantra of “No New Taxes” will prevent the
>> implementation
>> > of
>> > > > the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health’s recommendations.
>> Set up
>> > in
>> > > > 2002 by then President George W. Bush, the commissioners bemoaned
>> the
>> > > > collapse of the nation’s mental health services and proposed
>> increased
>> > > > federal funding in this area.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> The advocacy group America Mental Health makes a strong pitch
>> to
>> > the
>> > > > nation’s business leaders by reminding them that “untreated
>> and
>> > mistreated
>> > > > mental illness costs the United States $150 billion in lost
>> > productivity
>> > > > each year, and U.S. businesses foot up to $44 billion of this
>> bill.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> American Mental Health proposes that “many
>> considerations—ranging
>> > from
>> > > > social justice to economic self-interest—make it imperative that
>> the
>> > federal
>> > > > government assume a major, focused, coordinated role in mental
>> health
>> > > > policy, a role both different and larger than it currently
>> plays.”
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> In his state of the state address Idaho Governor “Butch”
>> Otter
>> > > > encouraged families to gather around the kitchen table to solve
>> their
>> > > > problems rather than relying on “soul-crushing” state and
>> federal
>> > programs
>> > > > to help them.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Even the strongest families are helpless in the face of the
>> > challenges
>> > > > posed by the Jared Loughners of the nation. Even the wisest
>> fathers and
>> > > > mothers on limited Idaho budgets must admit that government
>> subsidized
>> > > > mental health is the only way their troubled children are going to
>> get
>> > the
>> > > > help they need.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Gov. Otter is not calling for cuts in Health and Welfare in
>> his
>> > FY12
>> > > > budget, but the department has suffered a 21 percent reduction
>> over the
>> > past
>> > > > three years.  In mental health alone 49 positions have been
>> eliminated
>> > in
>> > > > the adult and youth divisions.  In 2009 a Pocatello man, who had
>> been
>> > > > removed from a mental health program, shot and wounded a man near
>> his
>> > home.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> When I travel to India it is depressing to see so many
>> beggars on
>> > the
>> > > > streets and so many people that are obviously mentally ill.  The
>> US
>> > > > Conference of Mayors estimates that 40 percent of America’s 1.6
>> million
>> > > > homeless people are mentally ill.  This is a national disgrace and
>> an
>> > > > international embarrassment.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> No amount of Otter “table talk” is going to solve these
>> basic
>> > social
>> > > > and psychological problems. Far too many souls have already been
>> > crushed and
>> > > > fallen through the huge holes in America’s social safety net.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Nick Gier taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31
>> > years.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > =======================================================
>> > > > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
>> > > > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>> > > > > >               http://www.fsr.net
>> > > > > >          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > > > > > =======================================================
>> > > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================


"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown