To: psysr-disc@yahoogroups.com

From: "feb7th71" <target@batstar.net>

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:33:27 -0700

Subject: Re: A Prevention Model for Reducing the Federal Debt While Doing Social Good

 

Thanks, Qpo.

I don't know if this goes to the National Commission below, but it surely goes to PsySR. The social expenses of diagnosing the population as mentally sicker and sicker, of maintaining a "clinical gaze" without a matching program of social responsibility, is fiscally irresponsible. Overcoming the logic of objectification, which supports "learned helplessness" and engaging the ethics of "do no harm" which challenges "attitude management" will help directly with "mental health cost" but more broadly will help move the dialogue over to the social relations of "madness." Won't that improve the wholesomeness of our approach to prevention? Isn't that counter to the irresponsible "tea party" approach?

At the Boston Conference, Paula Caplan, a prominent advocate against the "logic of objectification" is presenting in a Sat. workshop, while Delphine Brody a client/survivor advocate for the behavior matching the ethics of "do no harm" will presenting in another. Perhaps as you indicate this effort will bring things closer to a "more socially responsible psychology."

 

Andrew Phelps

 

Qpo wrote:

A Prevention Model for Reducing the Federal Debt While Doing Social Good

Qpo

The growing federal debt has become such a looming problem that President Obama appointed a National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to tackle it. So far, the public discourse has focused on two painful but seemingly necessary solutions-raising taxes and cutting current government programs. If instead, far more funds were put toward preventing problems before they arise, future spending would be reduced, along with the need for as many taxes hikes and program cuts. This prevention model is primarily associated with health care (it is cheaper to prevent than treat an illness), but it could be applied across diverse budget sectors. What if all budget administrators were instructed to consider funding preventive measures that might save money in the future? ..