FLORIDA GOV. DUHSANTIS ANNOUNCED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT OF MISEDUCATION HAS ADOPTED NEW BLACK PEOPLE STANDARDS

 

FLORIDA GOV. DUHSANTIS ANNOUNCED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT OF MISEDUCATION ADOPTED NEW BLACK PEOPLE STANDARDS

Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your seats because we have some breaking news! Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has just announced that his Department of Miseducation has adopted new standards for teaching history. And what do these standards say, you ask? Brace yourselves, folks, because this is going to be a doozy.

According to the new standards, slavery was actually good for black people! Yes, you read that right. Apparently, being stripped of your freedom, forced to work for no pay, and treated like property was actually beneficial for enslaved people. Who knew?

The standards go on to claim that enslaved people learned valuable skills while in captivity. Skills like how to pick cotton, how to survive brutal beatings, and how to live in constant fear for their lives. Oh, and let's not forget about the free room and board they received! Who wouldn't want to be locked up and fed scraps by their oppressors?

But wait, it gets even better. The standards suggest that being enslaved was actually a "personal benefit" for black people. Because apparently, being treated like subhuman garbage is just what every person dreams of. Forget about freedom, autonomy, and basic human rights – those things are overrated anyway.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "This has to be a joke, right?" Sadly, no. This is the actual stance that the Florida Department of Miseducation is taking on the history of slavery. And it's not just a minor footnote in the curriculum – it's a major part of what students will be taught.

So, what can we expect from this new curriculum? Well, for starters, we can expect a lot of confused and angry students. We can expect parents to be outraged that their children are being taught such blatant lies. And we can expect a lot of eye-rolling from anyone with even a basic understanding of history.

But hey, at least we can all take comfort in the fact that Ron DeSantis and his team of educators are doing their best to make sure that future generations are completely misinformed about one of the darkest periods in our nation's history. Because why learn from our mistakes when we can just pretend they never happened?

In all seriousness though, this is a truly disturbing development. It's one thing to have differing opinions on how history should be taught – it's quite another to actively promote falsehoods and propaganda. We can only hope that this decision is met with enough backlash that it's quickly reversed.

In the meantime, if you're a student in Florida, I suggest you do your own research on the topic of slavery. Don't rely solely on what your textbooks tell you – seek out other sources and form your own opinions. And if you're a parent in Florida, I suggest you speak up and let your voice be heard. Because if we don't push back against this kind of nonsense, we're all in trouble.

Florida Schools Will Teach How Slavery Brought ‘Personal Benefit’ to Black People https://news.yahoo.com/florida-schools-teach-slavery-brought-123130834.html

 Florida Board of Education approves controversial Black history standards https://www.axios.com/2023/07/19/florida-education-controversial-black-history-standards

Florida Board of Education approves new Black history standards that critics call 'a big step backward' | CNN https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/20/us/florida-black-history-education-standards-reaj/index.html 

Florida Schools now teaching students that slavery brought "personal benefit" to Black people | Salon.com https://www.salon.com/2023/07/20/florida-schools-now-teaching-students-that-slavery-brought-personal-benefit-to-black-people/ 

MEATAXE MIKE MILES STRIKES AGAIN WITH ANOTHER PLAY OUT OF THE OLD BILLIONAIRES PRIVATIZATION HANDBOOK

 

MEATAXE MIKE MILES STRIKES AGAIN WITH ANOTHER PLAY OUT OF THE OLD BILLIONAIRES PRIVATIZATION HANDBOOK

Houston ISD teachers are up in arms over a new scheme cooked up by the district's notorious Superintendent, MeatAxe Mike Miles. According to reports, Miles has been promising teachers a 40% pay raise to sign a contract and move to another school in the district. However, when the offer letters arrived, they were $25,000 less than what was originally promised.

One teacher, Mario Williams, spoke out about the discrepancy, saying that nobody in the district could give him an explanation for what happened. Williams has been an elementary school special education teacher with HISD for the past four years and claims that the job is demanding but also rewarding.

"He told us that compensation is working very hard making sure that they're getting everybody's pay right," Williams said. "But when I received my offer letter in the mail, it wasn't what I was promised."

This is not the first time that MeatAxe Mike has pulled a bait-and-switch on HISD teachers. In fact, it seems to be a page out of his old billionaire's privatization handbook. Miles has been accused of using similar tactics in his previous positions as Superintendent of schools in Colorado and Dallas.

However, this time, MeatAxe Mike may have gone too far. Teachers across the district are organizing protests and demanding an explanation from the district. Some are even calling for Miles to be fired.

One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "It's just not right. We work hard every day to educate our students, and we deserve to be treated fairly. MeatAxe Mike needs to be held accountable for his actions."

Despite the backlash, Miles seems unfazed. In a statement to the press, he defended his actions, saying, "We are committed to providing our teachers with competitive salaries and benefits. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by the offer letters."

The statement did little to quell the anger of HISD teachers, who are now planning a walkout in protest. It remains to be seen whether MeatAxe Mike will back down or face the wrath of Houston's educators.

In the meantime, teachers like Mario Williams are left wondering how they will make ends meet with a salary that falls short of what was promised.

"I love my job and I love my students," Williams said. "But I also have bills to pay and a family to support. I just hope that HISD will do the right thing and make this right."

As for MeatAxe Mike, it seems that his days as Superintendent may be numbered. If he doesn't learn his lesson soon, he may find himself out of a job and on the receiving end of a pink slip.

Houston ISD teachers say offer letters don't match compensation they were verbally promised https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/houston-isd-teacher-pay-offer-letters/285-d9f8ffc7-77b5-4893-bd26-d7dded882a01 via @KHOU

 Houston ISD teachers say offer letters don't match compensation they were verbally promised - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H3tUSkfxBU

REAGANOMICS TRICKLE DOWN MENTAL HEALTHCARE HAS MADE US ALL CRAZY

 

REAGANOMICS TRICKLE DOWN MENTAL HEALTHCARE HAS MADE US ALL CRAZY  

Oh, Ronnie, what have you done? Your mental health policies have turned us all into a bunch of crazies. Trickle-down mental care? More like trickle-down insanity. Privatization of everything and let the market figure it out? That's just crazy talk. Your abject failure of Reaganomics privatization and trickle-down has left us all scratching our heads and wondering what the hell happened.

But fear not, my fellow nutjobs, there is hope on the horizon. We can correct these problems caused by the Reaganomics approach to health care in California and the US. How, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

First, let's talk about how current mental health policies affect homelessness, drugs, and violence. Spoiler alert: not in a good way. The lack of access to adequate community-based services has contributed to the increase of homelessness, violence, and incarceration among people with serious mental illnesses. And let's not forget the opioid and fentanyl epidemics that has ravaged our country. It's time to face the music and admit that Reagan's policies were a disaster.

But don't despair, my fellow loonies. Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a new proposal called the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Court. This program would provide a framework for courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment, while also providing participants with supportive housing and wrap-around services. It's about time someone took some action to fix this mess.

Now, let's talk about the cost of mental health care. It varies by state, but one thing is for sure: it's expensive. The average spending on mental health treatment and services in the US was $225 billion in 2019. That's a lot of dough. But don't worry, some therapists offer sliding scale fees or pro bono services for low-income clients. So, if you're feeling a little crazy but don't want to break the bank, there are options out there for you.

In conclusion, Reagan's mental health policies were a disaster. But we can't just sit around and complain about it. We need to take action and demand better mental health care for ourselves and our fellow citizens. So, let's get out there and make some noise. Let's demand change. And let's do it with a smile on our faces because, hey, if we can't laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at?

THE DEFT DIVE

 Ronald Reagan's mental health policies as governor of California and as president of the United States, and their effects on California and the country. 

• - As governor of California from 1967 to 1975, Reagan signed the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act in 1967, which aimed to end the involuntary commitment of people with mental health disorders and establish a conservatorship system for those who could not care for themselves⁵. The act also shifted the responsibility of mental health care from the state to the counties, and reduced the funding and enrollment for state mental institutions⁴. Some critics argue that this policy contributed to the increase of homelessness, violence, and incarceration among people with serious mental illnesses, as many of them could not access adequate community-based services²¹¹. Others contend that the act was a progressive reform that protected the civil rights and dignity of people with mental health disorders, and that the lack of federal support and coordination was the main cause of the problems⁵⁶.
• - As president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, Reagan repealed the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, which was signed by President Jimmy Carter and provided grants to community mental health centers¹. The act was based on the recommendations of the President's Commission on Mental Health, which sought to improve mental health care in the country¹. Reagan replaced the act with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, which block granted the funds to the states and reduced federal spending on mental health¹⁹. This resulted in the closure of many community mental health centers and programs, and left millions of people with mental health disorders without adequate care or support²⁷. Reagan also opposed the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Health and Human Services, and appointed officials who were hostile to mental health research and advocacy²⁷.

In conclusion, Reagan's mental health policies as governor and president were largely driven by his conservative ideology and fiscal agenda, which favored decentralization, deregulation, and privatization of mental health care. His policies had significant and lasting effects on California and the country, as they reduced the availability and quality of public mental health services, and increased the social and economic costs of untreated mental illness.

Bing, 7/20/2023

(1) MENTAL HEALTH LAWS AND PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA - Placer County, CA. https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34528/Mental-Health-Laws-and-Patients-Rights-in-California-2018-Update-PDF.

(2) Ronald Reagan Mental Health Policy In California - KPCC. https://www.kpcc.org/show/airtalk/2004-06-10/ronald-reagan-mental-health-policy-in-california.

(3) Ronald Reagan's shameful legacy: Violence, the homeless, mental illness. https://www.salon.com/2013/09/29/ronald_reagans_shameful_legacy_violence_the_homeless_mental_illness/.

(4) Reagan Didn't Close Down Mental Hospitals - The Gormogons. https://www.gormogons.com/index.php/2013/03/reagan-didnt-close-down-mental-hospitals/.

(5) How a Reagan-era law built California’s mental health system | The .... https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article259026268.html.

(6) Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Health_Systems_Act_of_1980.

(7) Did the Emptying of Mental Hospitals Contribute to Homelessness?. https://www.kqed.org/news/11209729/did-the-emptying-of-mental-hospitals-contribute-to-homelessness-here.

(8) How Reagan’s Mental-Health Concerns Were Handled - New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/01/how-reagans-mental-health-concerns-were-handled.html.

(9) The Facts: President Reagan's Mental Health And Stability While In .... https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-facts-president-reagans-mental-health-and-stability-while-in-office-never-in-question-300580513.html.

(10) Mental Health Systems Act (1980 - S. 1177) - GovTrack.us. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/96/s1177.

(11) California: Reagan and the Mental Health Controversy - JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1725689.

The current state of mental health care in California is a complex and challenging issue that affects millions of Californians. According to the California Health Care Foundation, nearly 1 in 7 California adults experiences a mental illness, and one in 26 has a serious mental illness that makes it difficult to carry out daily activities¹. For children, one in 14 has an emotional disturbance that limits functioning in family, school, or community activities¹. However, close to two-thirds of adults with a mental illness and two-thirds of adolescents with major depressive episodes did not get treatment¹.

There are many factors that contribute to the gap between the need and the availability of mental health care in California, such as the lack of funding, workforce, and coordination among different systems and levels of government². The state has also faced legal and political challenges in implementing policies that aim to improve mental health care, such as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was passed by voters in 2004 and imposes a 1% tax on incomes above $1 million to fund mental health programs³. The MHSA has been criticized for its lack of oversight, accountability, and transparency, as well as its uneven distribution of funds across counties³.

In response to the mental health crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a new proposal in March 2022 called the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Court, which would provide a framework for courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment, while also providing participants with supportive housing and wrap-around services². The proposal would require all 58 counties to participate in the program, and would serve between 7,000 and 12,000 Californians². The proposal is still pending approval from the Legislature.

The state of mental health care in California is a dynamic and evolving issue that requires ongoing attention and collaboration from various stakeholders. I hope this summary has given you some insight into the current situation and the potential solutions. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me. 

Bing, 7/20/2023

(1) 2022 Edition — Mental Health in California - California Health Care .... https://www.chcf.org/publication/2022-edition-mental-health-california/.

(2) California mental health crisis: Newsom unveils ‘new strategy’ - CalMatters. https://calmatters.org/health/2022/03/newsom-california-mental-illness-treatment/.

(3) Behavioral Health Care - California Department of Managed Health Care. https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/HealthCareinCalifornia/GettheBestCare/BehavioralHealthCare.aspx.

(4) Mental Health Services - DHCS. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms-Ind.aspx.

The cost of mental health care varies by state, depending on factors such as the availability of providers, the insurance coverage, the quality of services, and the demand for care. According to the web search results, here are some facts and figures that might help you compare the cost of mental health care across different states:

• - The average spending on mental health treatment and services in the U.S. was $225 billion in 2019¹, which is about 6% of the total health care spending².
• - The state with the highest total amount of mental health expenditures in 2019 was California, with $6.8 billion dedicated to mental health spending³. The state with the second highest amount was New York, with $5 billion allocated to mental health spending³.
• - The state with the highest amount of per client mental health expenditures in 2019 was Hawaii, with $14,779 spent per client annually³. The state with the second highest amount was Alaska, with $13,910 spent per client annually³.
• - The state with the lowest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured in 2018 was Massachusetts, with 3.8% of adults with a mental illness lacking insurance¹. The state with the highest percentage was Texas, with 21.5% of adults with a mental illness uninsured¹.
• - The average cost of therapy in the U.S. can range from free to upward of $200 per session, depending on the location, the insurance, and the therapist⁴. Some therapists may offer sliding scale fees or pro bono services for low-income clients.

Bing, 7/20/2023

(1) Access to Care Data 2022 | Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-access-care-data.

(2) What you need to know about the cost and accessibility of mental health .... https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/In-The-News/2021/What-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-and-accessibility-of-mental-health-care-in-America.

(3) Mental Health Spending By State Across the US. https://rehabs.com/explore/mental-health-spending-by-state-across-the-us/.

(4) How Much Does Therapy Cost In 2023? – Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-much-does-therapy-cost/.