22 year old schizophrenic Farrah Russell was rebuilding her life. But when the plug was pulled on the state program that allowed her to subsist, she took her life.
Her heartbreaking story is a cautionary tale of the dark consequences of state budget cuts. While politicians
argue over tax stimulus proposals that
benefit the wealthy, while
wild numbers are applied to war budgets, the States have been forced to cut social programs in order to survive. Whether it's
California teachers,
Connecticut and
New York residents dreading tax hikes,
Pennsylvania public transportation, or
Texas prescription drug coverage for the poor, the States, supposedly United, have been left out to dry. While the States have been forced to cut their programs, groping for survival, Washington remains silent in its
mission. It does
not remember history. Why do we turn a blind eye to the hidden costs? What can be done about this? And how do we make it stop?
posted by ed
on May 5, 2003 -
53 comments
