Other things to do with the Iraq war money

Lansing State Journal: Schneider: 'No one seems to be listening' to troubled ex-con


Funding the true costs of a comprehensive support system for our nation's poorest and sickest people would boggle the mind of everyone but the Congressional Budget Office, people who are accustomed to giant numbers.


It's a cost that no one is willing to pay, probably because the losses incurred are almost always borne by other poor and sick people.


The net effect is that being poor and sick in our societies is virtually itself criminal. Yikes.


It's only when the damage spreads beyond the poorest communities and neighborhoods that the rest of us notice and demand action.


I think not fully funding a complete mental health system, including addiction recovery programs and monitored housing is a form of negligence, and the damage done by our poorest and sickest people are eating away at our security. We can either pay now or pay later, when it will be even more expensive. Defering the cost forever, like we do now, is a recipe for disaster, as we see in the news from time to time.