Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The district spend $38,998 a year per student at the school, which compares to the district average of $7,546.33 per student.
Fuzzy accounting. CCSD spends > $10,000/yr per average student. That's right.
Why do we even let CCSD get its hands on these special kids? The Nevada constitution requires that the state provide benevolent institutions to take care of residents with severe challenges. And it does.
The constitution established public education for poor kids who want a education but otherwise wouldn't have a chance. Like most government agencies, CCSD is neglecting its limited legal mission (in this instance, to teach the 3R's to poor kids) while expaning into roles which it is NOT authorized.
It's all about the money.
Furthermore, why would anyone want to sentence such kids to the incompetent CCSD? Their parents aren't looking to teach them *football* skills. CCSD can't even teach the 3R's to "normal" kids. What makes you think they can accomplish anything with kids who have real problems? I'd sooner trust the Dept of Corrections to do a better job.
Showing posts with label HHS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HHS. Show all posts
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Turning Us Into Mental Cases
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution requires public support of institutions for the mentally and physically "challenged". These programs account for ~25% of the biennial budget.
If one of our residents gives birth to child with severe problems, I don't really object to trying to provide a minimum level of comfort. I *do* object to people who work for the system making huge salaries and outpatients who suffer from human conditions like "depression" (bad hair days) asking us to pay for their "meds" (drug addictions). Worst of all, these programs act like a sad sack magnet.
The state benevolent institutions budget is opaque, but experience tells me that it's a LOT bigger -- at least 10X -- than it needs to be. We could cover it with two or three days worth of August sales taxes.
The Nevada Constitution requires public support of institutions for the mentally and physically "challenged". These programs account for ~25% of the biennial budget.
If one of our residents gives birth to child with severe problems, I don't really object to trying to provide a minimum level of comfort. I *do* object to people who work for the system making huge salaries and outpatients who suffer from human conditions like "depression" (bad hair days) asking us to pay for their "meds" (drug addictions). Worst of all, these programs act like a sad sack magnet.
The state benevolent institutions budget is opaque, but experience tells me that it's a LOT bigger -- at least 10X -- than it needs to be. We could cover it with two or three days worth of August sales taxes.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mental Health Abuse
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution requires that taxpayers fund mental hospitals. Those facilities should only provide very basic in-patient services at minimal cost. The system was *never* meant to expand into a public mental health system that treats benign human conditions like "bipolar disorder" (mood swings) and "depression" (bad hair days).
The Nevada Constitution requires that taxpayers fund mental hospitals. Those facilities should only provide very basic in-patient services at minimal cost. The system was *never* meant to expand into a public mental health system that treats benign human conditions like "bipolar disorder" (mood swings) and "depression" (bad hair days).
Daniel Allen, PhD
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Daniel Allen, a UNLV psychology professor, said Generally, people who have bipolar disorder need to be on prescribed medication
A stooge for Big Pharma.
Daniel Allen, a UNLV psychology professor, said Generally, people who have bipolar disorder need to be on prescribed medication
A stooge for Big Pharma.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Nevada Taxpayers Must Be Nuts
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
32.6% of the Gibbons budget was eaten up by HHS. The goal of small, constitutional government would have been served by cutting this cesspool down to its constitutional minimum: management of state institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. The HHS budget is completely opaque. A little transparency, please! Gibbons counts ~4,000 in-patients, and budgets ~$130M per year (less than 20% of HHS's overall budget).
The Public Safety budget (9.5%), at $285M per year, is perhaps most opaque of all. How many inmates are victimless criminals? Release them and CLOSE most of the prisons. Fire the political hires (ie females are guarding males). Stop enforcement of non-crimes.
I would not want to throw the helpless out into the desert, or parole violent felons, but I think that by attacking the waste within these legitimate functions, we could save a bundle. I conservatively estimate more than 50%.
32.6% of the Gibbons budget was eaten up by HHS. The goal of small, constitutional government would have been served by cutting this cesspool down to its constitutional minimum: management of state institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. The HHS budget is completely opaque. A little transparency, please! Gibbons counts ~4,000 in-patients, and budgets ~$130M per year (less than 20% of HHS's overall budget).
The Public Safety budget (9.5%), at $285M per year, is perhaps most opaque of all. How many inmates are victimless criminals? Release them and CLOSE most of the prisons. Fire the political hires (ie females are guarding males). Stop enforcement of non-crimes.
I would not want to throw the helpless out into the desert, or parole violent felons, but I think that by attacking the waste within these legitimate functions, we could save a bundle. I conservatively estimate more than 50%.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Psychobabblers for BIG Government
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Nevada lawmakers were told Thursday the state needs to upgrade and expand its mental health facilities to ensure that they are safe and that federal funds aren't jeopardized.
The Nevada Constitution authorizes what we used to call "institutions". You know, for children born with severe handicaps, or those unfortunate, few adults who crack up. Like this place. The public role was never meant to explode into a comprehensive, community-based, mental health system. Nevada citizens should not have to treat the human conditions of depression, anxiety, and all the other high functioning non-problems the psyche establishment has hoodwinked us with. If those power-addicted politicians want to turn Nevada into a burn-out magnet, let them appeal to the voters for a constitutional amendment.
The federal government has NO role in mental health treatment. They have NO business telling us how much we should spend on those sorts of programs. Gibbons should tell those Washington bureaucrats to take Prozac and leave us alone. If they treaten to withhold federal highway funds, we should retaliate by imposing on a land and air blockade on Nellis.
Nevada lawmakers were told Thursday the state needs to upgrade and expand its mental health facilities to ensure that they are safe and that federal funds aren't jeopardized.
The Nevada Constitution authorizes what we used to call "institutions". You know, for children born with severe handicaps, or those unfortunate, few adults who crack up. Like this place. The public role was never meant to explode into a comprehensive, community-based, mental health system. Nevada citizens should not have to treat the human conditions of depression, anxiety, and all the other high functioning non-problems the psyche establishment has hoodwinked us with. If those power-addicted politicians want to turn Nevada into a burn-out magnet, let them appeal to the voters for a constitutional amendment.
The federal government has NO role in mental health treatment. They have NO business telling us how much we should spend on those sorts of programs. Gibbons should tell those Washington bureaucrats to take Prozac and leave us alone. If they treaten to withhold federal highway funds, we should retaliate by imposing on a land and air blockade on Nellis.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A Small Government Budget
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
83% of the Gibbons budget was eaten up by K-12, NSHE, & HHS. The goal of small, constitutional government would have been served by cutting these items down to their constitutional mininima.
K-12 spending (37.1%) could have been reduced to less than $2M per year by abolishing every public school except one per district. Taxpayer support for NSHE (13.7%) could have reduced to $0.00 by eliminating all University activities except practical instruction in Agriculture, Mining, and Engineering.
HHS (32.6%) is a cesspool of waste. It's only constitutional duties are management of the state institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. The detailed budget is still opaque, but it counts ~4,000 in-patients, and budgets ~$130M (less than 20% of HHS's overall budget). The prison budget ($285M per year) is perhaps most opaque of all. How many inmates are victimless criminals? Release them and CLOSE most of the prisons. How many guards are women? Fire them. I would not want to throw the helpless out into the desert, or parole violent felons, but I think that we could save a bundle by attacking the waste within these legitimate functions. I conservatively estimate at least HALF.
Many folks are a lot more familiar with PERS than I. I think we should abolish the benefit. It's overly generous, especially for employees who perform now (or did before retirement) NEGATIVE work. Offer buyouts if need be. The rest of the budget is either small fry or unconstitutional bureaucracies deserving abolition.
At a glance, my freedom budget works out to less than $250M per year. More than my oft-cited $100M figure, but not bad for an hour's work.
83% of the Gibbons budget was eaten up by K-12, NSHE, & HHS. The goal of small, constitutional government would have been served by cutting these items down to their constitutional mininima.
K-12 spending (37.1%) could have been reduced to less than $2M per year by abolishing every public school except one per district. Taxpayer support for NSHE (13.7%) could have reduced to $0.00 by eliminating all University activities except practical instruction in Agriculture, Mining, and Engineering.
HHS (32.6%) is a cesspool of waste. It's only constitutional duties are management of the state institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. The detailed budget is still opaque, but it counts ~4,000 in-patients, and budgets ~$130M (less than 20% of HHS's overall budget). The prison budget ($285M per year) is perhaps most opaque of all. How many inmates are victimless criminals? Release them and CLOSE most of the prisons. How many guards are women? Fire them. I would not want to throw the helpless out into the desert, or parole violent felons, but I think that we could save a bundle by attacking the waste within these legitimate functions. I conservatively estimate at least HALF.
Many folks are a lot more familiar with PERS than I. I think we should abolish the benefit. It's overly generous, especially for employees who perform now (or did before retirement) NEGATIVE work. Offer buyouts if need be. The rest of the budget is either small fry or unconstitutional bureaucracies deserving abolition.
At a glance, my freedom budget works out to less than $250M per year. More than my oft-cited $100M figure, but not bad for an hour's work.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Buckley-Run Health Insurance Company
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
A health insurer might react to this kind of legislation by surrendering its license. That would reduce competition. Or, an insurer might decide to add autism coverage by dropping coverage for some other child conditions. Or, a health insurer might try to raise its rates. Either way, health insurance consumers who liked their policies just the way they were will be inconvenienced.
We don't want politicians writing insurance policies. We don't want them mucking around with the private sector. Big government never knows when to quit.
A health insurer might react to this kind of legislation by surrendering its license. That would reduce competition. Or, an insurer might decide to add autism coverage by dropping coverage for some other child conditions. Or, a health insurer might try to raise its rates. Either way, health insurance consumers who liked their policies just the way they were will be inconvenienced.
We don't want politicians writing insurance policies. We don't want them mucking around with the private sector. Big government never knows when to quit.
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