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You mean, "What should the state do?" That's a different question than what ordinary human beings should do. The notion that someone who said, "Jesus wants me
by Kattywumpus 10y ago
You mean, "What should the state do?" That's a different question than what ordinary human beings should do.
The notion that someone who said, "Jesus wants me to live on the street," would suddenly find themselves incarcerated and drugged to change their mind is such a terrifying overreach of state power that it boggles the mind.
- jdbernard 10y agoFirst, I agree with you. Making a policy of judging (often poorly) the state of mind of other people and then forcibly stripping them of their rights based on that decision is a dark road. But, what do we do when that person changes from "Jesus wants me to live on the street" to "Jesus told me to purify people wearing blue?" Or maybe a less extreme version, "I have been commanded to anoint your car by defecating on it." What is our responsibility as a society to those who through no fault of their own become delusional and dysfunctional to the point where they become abusive towards others? What agent should be charged with this responsibility if not the government? I don't have a good solution myself. I've just seen the damage mental illness can cause, and it usually isn't limited to the person who is ill. I've had the difficult conversation: "I know they're stalking you, and I know they have a CHL, and I know they are no longer in their right mind, but there are no authorities that can actually do anything until after they directly threaten you in a way that you can prove."