Funding for mental health is lacking

It is not the voicing of strong opinions that leads people to act out as some politicians have suggested. It would be a shame if this became a political tool when either side criticizes the other. Our society should not be silent in fear of inciting someone who is unstable. Lest freedom of speech be lost by all for those voicing their strong beliefs — whether left or right of the aisle — it challenges us to seek what might have made a difference in preventing the horror of the massacre on Jan. 8 in Arizona.

I do not have the statistics for all of the mental health facilities that have been closed in the past 40 years due to lack of funding that might have identified people on a short, unstable wick and removed them from society to the safety of a mental health facility. Heinous crimes did occur years ago when funding and hospitalization were more readily available, but not, I believe, at the incredibly regular rate they are occurring now.

There are many who need serious mental health help as exhibited by the Arizona shooter. If the state and federal budgets reflected a balanced concern for the health of all its citizens, perhaps more people would be identified and get the help they need. This could only be done if our legislators ran their business as we are all expected to run our homes: responsibly. Do not buy what you cannot afford. Do not borrow if you cannot pay it back. Do not give what is not yours to give. Plan ahead for the unexpected.

One cannot borrow a gazillion for the next 10 years without a plan to pay it back and support it by saying, “But I am saving a million today.”

Karen Goettsche

Inverness