Reply #97: I remember what Reagan did in Ca [View All]

When I lived in Berkeley in the 70s, I lived near a halfway house for those recently "liberated" from state mental institutions. One young woman resident who I struck up an acquaintance with had been placed in an institution because, according to her, she had been disruptive in high school and her parents were advised that an institution was the best place for her.

OK, along comes Reagan and shuts down the institutions, but apparently this young woman was still considered disruptive many years later, so in order that she no longer pose a "threat to society", she was given what was euphemistically termed psycho surgery. Bingo - cured. Reagan saves a buck or two.

If this was not bad enough, she remembered the time when she could get excited about stuff - things like music, life in general. When she tried to play a guitar like she used to years ago, she just sat there waiting for something, anything to inspire her. Nothing came to her and the most tragic part was that she no longer cared. It broke my heart. I will forever equate this image with Reagan and I will never forgive him.