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5/31/2010: Thanks Jim Coyle, thanks Toronto Star, wisdom paid for by pain
At first glance I nearly dismissed this article, but I like to read Jim Coyle.
Michael Bryant a wiser man after tragedy
Former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant finishes speaking to journalists at a press conference in Toronto after criminal charges against him in the death of a cyclist were withdrawn.
Michael Bryant struck a grace note this week.
If there’s a conclusion to be drawn from the former attorney general’s demeanour – after charges against him were withdrawn in the death of a cyclist on Bloor St. last summer – it’s that Bryant would probably make a better politician now than before.
Wisdom is often paid for with pain. Humility is frequently found in the recognition of how much the love, support and kindness of others matters. Mature perspective sometimes comes in the awareness of one’s own vulnerability to chance and random reckless acts.
Much nonsense has been spouted in recent days. Some have said the dropping of charges against Bryant declares open season on cyclists. Others talk of a war on cyclists. The comments are as ridiculous as they are unhelpful.
If there’s a lesson in this story, it is in the cost of untreated addiction and mental health needs
the story of a man whose pattern of conduct (if the ghastly consequence of an appallingly difficult life) pretty much assured him a date with a jail cell, or an early coffin, or as the star in someone else’s tragedy.
It’s a story about the destructive – and often self-destructive – consequences of rage. The prisons are full of people who lost it for 28 seconds, or even less.
There is more to the article but I had to stop a moment. Sometimes when I stop on this site and look back into what has already been written over the years, time stands still. Maybe 2004, an article from the Toronto Star, CAMH wrote the Ontario Minister of Health with concern for close to a half million Ontarians with brain changes caused by gambling addictions.
40 + years of community pharmacy proved that to me and Mr. Coyle states it in the article.
“The costs of untreated addiction”
CAMH writes it fairly clear:
…a half million ontarians…
Are addicted Ontarians citizens?
Are most addicted citizens also tax paying citizens?
How many committed crimes to feed their addictions?
How many addicts do we provide shelter for? (jail)
The direction I want to go is with a simple fact.
OLG spends almost a billion dollars a year promoting and advertising gambling in every form and claims that they produce a billion of dollars profit. (losses of citizens)
CAMH in Mr. Coyle’s previous article (posted at GWG 2 weeks ago) states that as many as 1 in 5, of one hundred, one thousand, 500,000 thousand Ontarians are problem gamblers - addicts -
and 20% will attempt suicide. Many others will commits other acts, just witness Mr Bryant.
It is one thing to say OLG provides entertainment, that is okay to play a little slots; sorry, but I never met a responsible addict.
But willfully messing up a lot of tax paying citizen’s brain cells, don’t you think public health should start screaming? Just a little?
We’re talking messed up genetic material in human beings, just a little.
I read where children of addicts have twice the suicide rate.
Thank you Mr Coyle and the Toronto Star
bill clark
June 14th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Government Funding / Research Scandal
Visit the website that the Canadian House of Commons and numerous Universities across North
America have as well.
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It’s an ingenious form of white collar crime:
PHD credentials / contacts, an expendable family, participation of a dubious core of
established professionals, Unaudited Government agency funding (identity protected by
Privacy Commissioner Office - GamblingResearch.org), unlimited funding (under the guise of
research grants), PHD individuals linked with the patient (deter liability issues), patient
diagnosed with mental illness (hospital committed events = no legal lawyer access/rights),
cooperation of local University and police (resources and security); note the Director of
Brock Campus Security.
This all adds up to a personal ATM; at the expense of Canadian Taxpayers!
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“convinced” to be taken to St. Catharines General hospital (2001)
and conveniently diagnosed with a “mental illness” (hint: Hallucination type; “forced” to
consume “prescribed” corresponding medication for “cognitive” purposes )
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Google
Medicine Gone Bad