Coinciding with the recent passage of new anti-abortion legislation in Louisiana that was signed by Governor Blanco last week comes an front page article in yesterday's NY Times documenting what has been described as a "near epidemic of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders,..that mental health expertssay is of an intensity rarely seen in this country" that is currently happening in New Orleans. It goes on to describe the "near total collapse" of the city's mental health system. With almost all of the short term problems being thrust on the NOPD's crisis intervention units, Dr. Jeffery Rouse, the NO Deputy Coroner in charge of psychiatric cases is quoted saying "It's a defeat. The state has a moral obligation to reinstitute this {mental health} care."
It seems curious to this Yankee...
even after reading Pico's "kos is Wrong on Louisiana" diary, that the Louisiana legislators would place greater priority on banning safe and legal abortions rather than working to rebuild the mental health resources that are needed to keep their constitutients alive. Perhaps someone could explain why the Governor seems to care less for the lives of her friends, neighbors and fellow citizens of Louisiana than she does for getting her state the pole position in the race that seems to have started in the race to have the SCOTUS overrule Roe v. Wade. Just my 0.02.