[absalom01]

No, the way I read that, Cramer is pointing out that since the media refused to acknowledge the link between homelessness and deinstitutionalization, the public, lacking that information, was not apprised that deinstitutionalization ALSO contributed to a rise in violent crime at the time.

I think that Cramer is dead-on with his analysis.

[SE Mom]

I agree with that conclusion as well.

During the research I mentioned above I went on a tangent (as often happens when I start researching!)about mental institutions of our past. I did learn a lot about the various views our society has had about mental illness and how we dealt with it- it’s always been a very touchy subject and has eluded any solution. Today we medicate enormous numbers of our people who may well have been locked up in the past. Is that a good or bad thing? I don’t know.

The point though- that we haven’t really paid attention to our sick people- is a valid one. I mean I never wondered about it either until the last few years. Suddenly, while reading about the THOUSANDS of people who used to be “put away” I wondered...what the hell happened to them? I found we let them out and then just dealt with the circumstances and consequences as they come up. Since the 70’s we’ve kind of ignored them except when they act out.

Like everything else now- we are so divided I can’t imagine a cohesive, caring and sensible policy toward people like Alan Lanza.