Save_mental_health wrote on February 27, 2009 07:04 AM: Article 1 § 13 of the Nevada Constitution requires the government to fund mental hospitals, as part of a modestly-sized safety net for the hopelessly disabled. Many tens of millions of dollars are wasted in Nevada mental health operations each year, like any other government program. Reforming the system must be a priority. Nevertheless, the State can't cut it willy-nilly any more than it can evict murderers from the state pen.

The government has NO authority to operate a tourism bureau, a general public health system, hire lobbyists, provide job training services, etc., If we eliminate those things there will be plenty of money available to overfund mental health.

Barry wrote on February 27, 2009 04:09 AM: Now that the Neo Liberals are turning us into socialists, does this mean we will use the nazi Germany model and send the mentally ill off to places like Buchenwald or Auschwitz?

RonNV wrote on February 27, 2009 03:36 AM: Unfortunately we are in the middle of a recession and budget cuts are necessary. The governor is doing what any prudent business person would do under similiar circumstances which is cutting expenditures. Not very pretty but absolutely necessary if we are to balance the budget and keep taxes low. Don't blame the governor. Blame the economic situation out there.

Greg wrote on February 27, 2009 02:31 AM: The message is clear, again. If you want to come to Nevada and spend money on gaming, drinking, entertainment options, and hotel suites, including hotel tax increases, you will be welcomed with open arms.

If you are young and lacking in professional work experience with a lot of energy and good attitude and you want to move to Nevada you will likewise be welcomed with open arms to a new job, such as a new resort opening.

If you retire and move to Nevada, you will be welcome so long as you have the ability to pay, as in a new home and buffet lines.

But, if you live in Nevada, and you or a family member incur any kind of problem whatsoever, healthwise, you should strongly consider leaving Nevada as soon as possible, going to another state that can afford to provide the services not available, or funded appropriately, in Nevada.

Did I miss anything (?)

Yes, I did. It makes no financial sense there is a large presence of older, retired citizens of Nevada who create heavy demand for healthcare services, yet urban Southern Nevada has a low cost healthcare structure, substandard regulatory and education system infrastructure, substandard public funding, and a shortage of specialists in several fields.

This "house of cards" harms legitimate efforts to expand the job base beyond resort-gaming, and creates additional expense, directly and indirectly for Nevada and it's citizens, by generating a higher level of negative outcomes in healthcare, of which many could be nipped in the bud by funding things appropriately in the first place.

In motorworks and building engineering, it's called preventative maintenance. But, in Nevada state budgeting, never mind the ping, pop, rattle and hum from under the hood of society, it's keep driving, no matter the final destination.