Why the negative attitude towards Union members looking for a decent wage?

Hell, if it came down to non-unionized labor and getting paid shitbricks to work at the institution—I’d rather get my free ride, 3 meals a day, and bed to sleep in at night as one of the institutionalized…!

I don’t think you should save the mentally disabled by paying the workers in insane wage. Unions are not evil. Funding is the problem.

If I know anything about Democrats, as a group, it is that they like to paint themselves as the champions of the underprivileged, they like unions, and they like to spend money. (Gross generalizations, I know, but at least somewhat true). I suppose Democrats in Illinois are likely to support institutions because they meet two of those three criteria: they cost a lot of money and they employ union workers. But many Democrats, and many Republicans alike, certainly cannot claim to be champions of the rights of people with disabilities in this state.

Robert Heinlein said that anytime someone asks, “Why don’t we?” the answer invariably involves money. Where would the money come from for the individualized supports you’re suggesting? If it’s from taxes, or if it’s administered by the Illinois state government, I’m afraid I have to unconditionally oppose it. The history of corruption within the state over the last couple of decades is undeniable and it should be assumed, rather than overlooked, that any future administration of funds will be inefficient and neglectful.

I am in favor of governmental units helping–as a matter of fact, I believe that governmental administrators should be held criminally liable if citizens are harmed because of their inaction. In my opinion, however, the proper level for this to happen would be on the county level, and it should be done in tandem with religious institutions to insure the morality of the treatment of the institutionalized.

In a sane society, the families of the people involved would be able to take care of them, but in the present artificial povertization of the middle and lower-classes (accompanied by the destruction of any remaining family units left) that’s not possible.

Tom

Billy- these facts are from “Disability at the Dawn of the 21st Century and the State of the States” by Braddock. It’s a huge book, but very interesting to flip through. Those numbers are from the 2000 and 2004 reports.

First of all, I resent being called an idealist or a do-gooder. They might both be true, but neither are applicable here.

Second, I am by no means advocating the closure of all institutions and I do not want anyone turned out onto the streets. In terms of institutionalization, I am advocating appropriate individualized supports that would allow people to choose where and with whom they live, to the best of their ability. Most states (Illinois not included) have developed personalized budgets for people with disabilities that allow them to make, or at least contribute to, all major life decisions. The closest thing Illinois has to a program like this is the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver, which is a very new program with little awareness in the disability community.

Several states have successfully closed all public institutions without turning any residents onto the streets.

I’d be happy to recommend a plethora of reading on why deinstitutionalization does not mean homelessness for people with disabilities. A great place to start is “Raymond’s Room” by Dale DiLeo.

What do you think is the ideal solution to the problem of homeless people who are unfit for work? You seem to prefer government-funded institutions to just throwing them on the street, but I know you’re not a fan of government and taxes in general.

Is this an exception to your usual point of view, or is there a better way to solve this problem without government intervention?

“Did you know that Illinois spends over $120,000 per person, per year housing people with disabilities in public institutions? That came out to over $330 million in 2004.

Did you know that most of those people did not choose this living arrangement, do not need 24-hour care or supervision, and could live in the community with appropriate supports and services for under $40,000 per year?”