California Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to push the edge of the fantasy governing envelope. In his most recent 2020 State of the State address. He has now announced the housing equivalent of the old medical saw "take two aspirin and call me in the morning."
The governor — who may be in need of a prescription himself — announced with a straight face that, "Doctors should be able to write prescriptions for housing the same way they do for insulin and antibiotics."
The Daily Caller quoted Gavin’s explanation for his startling proposal, "Healthcare and housing can no longer be divorced. After all, what’s more fundamental to a person’s well-being than a roof over their head?"
Newsom evidently isn’t the only person drinking the Kool–Aid, because the "crowd erupted in applause."
What was left unclear was where the homeless individual would go to have his prescription for a two-bedroom ranch-style filled since Walmart isn’t in the building business.
Newsom did spout some buzzwords and toss about budget figures, "That’s the aim of CalAIM, transforming Medi-Cal as we know it, backed by a $695 million budget request to make this real."
Details however remain unclear and that’s being generous.
What was interesting about his speech was the oblique admission that California’s so–called mental health reforms of the 1960s and 1970s were a big mistake and are now in need of "reform."
Newsom explained, "California’s behavioral health laws may have been ahead of their time, but today, call out for reform. We must tailor these policies to reflect the realities of street homelessness today, which are so different than they were 50 or even 15 years ago when these laws were enacted."
What Newsom is referring to is the sizable portion of the homeless who are mentally ill and under current law cannot be required to undergo treatment because of goofy "reform" laws passed long ago.
"Of course, the effectiveness of all of this hinges on an individual being capable of accepting help, to get off the streets and into treatment in the first place. Some, tragically, are not. That’s why we need better legal tools, ones that allow local governments, health providers, and law enforcement to more effectively help people access the treatment they need," Newsome admitted.
This tardy recognition doesn’t come a moment too soon. The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the capable leadership of Dr. Ben Carson, has found, "homelessness in California increased by 21,306 people, or 16.4 percent, which is more than the total national increase of every other state combined."
Recognizing California’s mental health laws are part of the problem is a positive first step, but expecting doctors to start writing prescriptions for housing and believing that will make a difference, might be another two steps in the opposite direction.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.