IV VL Treatment of Mental Illness & Prison Populations

[alice wellintown]

We see a steady attack on Reagan's policies, both Governor ((IV) and
President (VL). For example, the reduction of funding for social
welfare policies in late-1960s and during the 1980s. This attack is,
obviously,  much wider and deeper, but includes specific policies of
the conservative backlash against the welfare state: policies toward
involuntary commitment of the mentally ill and policies toward prison
populations in California.

What VL & IV show, is that Ronald Reagan pursued a policy toward the
treatment of prisoners and the treatment of mental illness that
satisfied special interest groups and the demands of the business
community, but failed to address the issue: the economic and
educational deficiencies in working class communities and the
treatment of mental illness.

Reagan is and easy target. The Golden Gangs too. Larry is confronted
with his direct involvement in these two abusive policies and tries to
deny or rationalize his rojust doing his job, but for the most part,
the target is anoymous and public greed.

Of course, the rationalization, "Just Doing My Job" is made easy by
the professionalization of human relations.