So I was at the state capitol yesterday with a bunch of other professionals in the substance abuse/mental health services field. We were there to educate the lawmakers of the importance of adequate funding so these important programs could continue. At the end, there was a press conference to proclaim yesterday substance abuse/mental health awareness day.
The director of the office of substance abuse gets up and does his speech. The theme of his speech, "paradigm shift". We're all standing behind him during the speech to demonstrate support and so he takes two dimes and gives them to someone and asks her to pass them around. Yes, that's right two dimes. A Pair of Dimes.
I knew there was a reason I really liked the guy.
Next target, the Governor.
YUOR TERRIBLE PUNS ARE DRIVING ME TO HEROIN :argh!:
I dont get it, what metaphor did he make about the two dimes? That what you guys needed was just "two dimes" worth of funding compared to what they usually spend?
Quote from: JohNyx on January 14, 2010, 01:48:43 PM
I dont get it, what metaphor did he make about the two dimes? That what you guys needed was just "two dimes" worth of funding compared to what they usually spend?
Pair of Dimes....paradigm.
He was talking about the need for a paradigm shift given the budget crisis we are going through. The knee-jerk reaction is always to slash funding to Health and Human Services programs. So that includes the prevention, intervention, treatment, and aftercare services for people addicted to substances or with mental health issues. The problem with that particular paradigm is that it ignores the fact that you aren't actually saving money by cutting the funding. Because the drug addicts and mentally ill who do not receive proper services will end up in the correctional system or the health care system on an emergency basis. So it is simply cost shifting, and the costs will be compounded.
So the theme was to encourage a paradigm shift in the state, to get citizens and lawmakers to understand how ass-backwards their approach is.
:mittens:
just as good as T&R's one about the two ducks named "Space" and "Time".
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on January 14, 2010, 01:38:51 PM
Next target, the Governor.
I hope you're targeting him with the front end of a big truck.
He was supposed to be there yesterday but apparently something more important came up. Which is fine, last time I met him he gave me a very chilly reception.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on January 14, 2010, 04:14:17 PM
He was supposed to be there yesterday but apparently something more important came up. Which is fine, last time I met him he gave me a very chilly reception.
Next time ask him to hold the party inside during the winter then.
:rimshot:
Good one. :lol: