The House will likely pass an omnibus spending bill by this Saturday. It must include language prohibiting money from being spent on mandatory mental-health screening of kids; otherwise, the screening programs already operating in Texas and Illinois will be implemented nationwide.
Should the government subject your children to mandatory mental-health screening without your consent?
I say “NO!”
The pharmaceutical industry says “yes” because it wants millions of new customers for drugs! such as Ritalin.
The psychiatry/psychology/counseling establishment says “yes” because they want millions of new patients.
These groups are represented by the most powerful and highest paid lobbyists in Washington and they are working this week to satisfy their clients — at the expense of your rights as parents and the well-being of your children.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons warned the public five days ago that universal psychiatric screening and drugging of children is “a dangerous scheme that will heap even more coercive pressure on parents to medicate children with potentially dangerous side effects.”
Congressman Ron Paul, a physician for over 30 years, abhors the “notion of federal bureaucrats ordering potentially millions of youngsters to take psychotropic drugs like Ritalin.”
We must stop this new federal program before it gets millions of dollars to spend. As Dr. Paul cautions, “Anyone who understands bureaucracies knows they assume more and more power incrementally.
A few scattered state programs over time will be replaced by a federal program implemented in a few select cities. Once the limited federal program is accepted, it will be expanded nationwide.”
We have until this Saturday at the latest. Urge House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to help. Ask him to make sure the omnibus spending bill or final committee report on Labor/HHS appropriations includes the following language:
“None of the funds made available for State incentive grants for transformation should be used for any programs of mandatory or universal mental-health screening that performs mental-health screening on anyone under 18 years of age without the express, written permission of the parents or legal guardians of each individual involved.”
Mr. DeLay has a copy of the letter Dr. Paul and 22 of his colleagues sent to Chairman Regula, so he knows about it.
Mr. DeLay’s office telephone number is 202-225-4000.
His fax number is 202-225-5117.
An E-mail form is HERE
Also, please spread the word. Thank you!
Kent Snyder The Liberty Committee
My husband often talks about moving to...
12:22 am on November 17th, 2004
Stuck in Houston
Gov Mental Health Checks For Kids
Well holy shit!! How did this manage to sneak this far onto the floor without anyone going nuts?? I have an idea, lets turn off the crap about peterson and instead actually cover shit that is truely newsworthy.. I m…
1:06 am on November 17th, 2004
Mental health screening is a good idea, but I think it should be performed by highly trained psychologists.
Using mental health drugs on children without extreme need (ie. suicide) is just unconsionable. Having kids on these without supervision by a psychologist is also a bad idea (most people don’t seem to understand that a psychiatrist’s job is to manage medication). On the other hand being aware of a childs mental activity and having someone who can monitor it and recommend behaviorial techniques to manage any problems is a great idea.
I think you are right however that it’s a push by the drug makers. It’s just rotten.
1:15 am on November 17th, 2004
Mental health screening is a grand idea, I agree. However - at the choice, time and decision of the parents choosing - - not because the school says so, and not without the parents consent.
The school can recommend all they like - and should . . . but ultimately, the choice lays with the parents.
Also - if my child is recommended for psychiatric screening - - as a parent, I will choose who my child goes to for that screening. I will research it and choose a practitioner with whom I am comfortable with, for the benefit of my kid - not for the benefit of the school.
6:39 am on November 17th, 2004
Take a stand against Government Control
It’s time to take a stand! Having been preoccupied with my own headaches this summer/fall, I missed this one.
Lisa at Just A Girl brought to my attention an act that must be stopped at all costs! There is a move to make mental health screening of a…
11:48 am on November 17th, 2004
This is another absurd attempt to take over responsibility from parents. Psychologists, if apllicable, should perform any screening but only with the parent’s permission. Next up will be a gene researcher who has to check your children to see if the Democrat gene is actually onboard.
8:13 pm on November 17th, 2004
After Dinner Mints
By the way, I got my first Japanese blog link (I think). I know you’ll all be excited about that. Particularly those of you know how to read those nutty little characters they use.
4:51 am on November 18th, 2004
1984
Brave New World
THX 1138
screening kids is the first step
why stopping with kids ?
Imagine a nation of screening adults ?
… and Don’t complain later … we told you
tsss
4:39 pm on November 18th, 2004
holy crap! thanks for the info. i’m in Texas, so this will be affecting my area if it is implemented. i can’t believe they would consider something so preposterous!
6:08 pm on November 18th, 2004
No Child Left Undrugged
Received in the mail a letter of great import. Vote is tomorrow which doesn’t leave much time.Your efforts are paying off! After over 7,600 messages from us(!), the House leadership supports the Paul language prohibiting the funding of mandatory ment…
6:09 am on November 19th, 2004
Maybe they’ll be testing for religiosity too. I know it’s not a word but I have been in America long enough that I feel that I can abuse the mother tounge with impunity.
6:59 pm on November 20th, 2004
I don’t suppose you’d like to urge your congressperson to also keep the bill from screwing around with a woman’s right to choose, would you?
No, probably not, since conservatives seem to care more about a clot of cells than they doa living woman… but I thought I’d ask…
7:10 pm on November 20th, 2004
dejah - you are the perfect example of how folks tend to over-generalize people.
I’m a conservative- yes, but a moderate one who supports a woman’s right to choose.
Now - I’ll accept your apology for being so quick to judge
7:50 am on November 22nd, 2004
Closet Liberal….
11:58 am on November 22nd, 2004
I’ve already said that …