Both you, and the historical commentary reply are correct. Mental hospitals _were_ very bad, and the problem continues to be very bad. However the solution wa

Both you, and the historical commentary reply are correct. Mental hospitals _were_ very bad, and the problem continues to be very bad. However the solution was never going to be END the old social program. We see the results in any major urban area today, it's what everyone in this thread is talking about. It's far too easy in politics to rally around a common 'goal' of 'stop doing X / being X' (E.G. BRexit) without the 'replacement' action selected. If 'and do nothing' is really what's supported that should be fine as an affirmative assertion. 'Stop doing X and do nothing instead'. Or (as an example) 'End sanitariums and make mental health a public drunkenness level crime while funding the police and jail / hospital systems for treatment'. The problem is lack of agreement and follow through on a plan leading to the default failure mode of the universe; everything fails in uncontrolled ways.