Another intrusive program

An unpopular truth

[Reprinted from Issues & Views November 1, 2004]

What's to be made of this President's New Freedom Commission, which calls for the implementation of "universal mental health screening?" Stephen Lilienthal of the Free Congress Foundation wants to know. And so does Phyllis Schlafly.

What role, asks Lilienthal, should the federal government have in promoting mental health? In "The Coming of the Psychotherapeutic State," Lilienthal describes a government report that urges the enactment of widespread screening for children "to identify and treat mental illness." He cites several psychobabble "recommendations" dealing with children deemed to be in "settings in which a high occurrence of co-occurring mental and substance use disorders exist."

Lilienthal expresses the fear that "Bit by bit, bureaucrats could take such language and slowly but surely push its boundaries, continually expanding its reach." As soon as Phyllis Schlafly learned of the Commission and the screening proposal, she urged the members of her Eagle Forum to take immediate measures to pressure Congress to deny it funding.

Congressman Ron Paul, concerned about the nature of the Commission and its recommendations, and foreseeing a possible future linkage with the pharmaceutical industry, set about opposing it. Claiming that the recommendations threatened to "take on a life of their own," he warned that such words as "comprehensive" and "widespread" could eventually become "universal." In a commentary on the subject, he wrote, "It's not hard to imagine a time 20 or 30 years from now when government psychiatrists stigmatize children whose religious, social, or political values do not comport with those of the politically correct, secular state."

On October 2, House Concurrent Resolution 292 was introduced as a mental health care package that gives bureaucrats in public schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, the juvenile justice system, and other venues, the right to put children through "mental health screening," with no qualifications concerning parental rights. Rep. Paul found his opportunity to counter this Resolution, when the Health and Education Appropriations bill was brought to the floor of the House. He offered an amendment, which would deny funding to implement the Commission's mental health screening proposals. After much wrangling between Republican and Democratic contestants, his amendment was defeated, 315-95.

Paul is only deterred, however, and does not plan to give up. Determined to nip this proposal in the bud, he plans to introduce legislation later this year to eliminate funding for this intrusive program, before it has a chance to be launched. Considering the results of the previous vote, with an overwhelming majority of Congress in favor of the Commission's recommendations, it promises to be a long haul.

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