Most of the problems of today are results of the solutions of yesterday.
Kevin Kelly, founder of Wired
Think about it - look at homelessness. Most of the homeless are mentally ill to some extent. Up to the 1970's, we used to institutionalize the mentally ill. Some of the institutions were not nice places but in general, the people there had security, a consistent environment and daily routine, good nutrition and some level of psychological care. Their families were able to come and visit whenever they wanted.
Starting around 1970, the progressives started lobbying against these psychiatric hospitals calling them inhumane. They started pushing for Deinstitutionalisation and for the social rights and justice for the mentally ill. These people were transfered from their safe environment and their care was shifted from in-house 24/7 care to walk-in centers where they had to take it upon themselves to visit and to show up for appointments for their treatment. President John F. Kennedy's Community Mental Health Act is the keystone of this program.
Segue to today and we have a huge homeless program with rampant drug use, disease and crime. The cost of dealing with the homeless is far beyond the cost of institutionalization and the mentally ill are living much poorer lives.
There are many other examples of social programs that sound good but do not do good and whose repercussions will echo out into the future.
Tip of the hat to Maggie's Farm for the link.
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