[Maven]

I can't believe some of the people who responded to this question on a site that came up in a Google search:

http://www.helium.com/tm/491354/abso...simplea-person

I mean, many are completely ignorant about mentally ill people. Some specify severely mentally ill persons shouldn't be able to vote, but others generalize that all mentally ill persons can't understand the voting process, would be "confused," can't make decisions for themselves, etc.

The sad and frightening thing is, the majority of the USA and probably the world have a lot of misconceptions and just plain dumb ideas about the mentally ill, and some have the power to bully and force people to be discriminated against, restrict our rights, and treat us like second-class citizens!!! I'm so mad right now!!!

(((Maven))

Gosh I am mad too thats horrible! I've always thought that people who think they have no "mental" illness seem to think anyone who has it aren't fit for worldly events such as voting. It is so depressing to see ppl clasify us as mentally ill ppl at a lower standard,..we're not crazy,..no one is, what is normal anyway? If a mentally ill person can't vote nor should a Physically ill person,..I mean its all the same in the end, we are all different...this really pisses me off...PC is a great place full of great ppl who are NOT crazy we have 19999 registered members thats a big population to show mental health is in a wide realm of ppl who are completely normal to normality.

Maven I am mad with you my friend

Dustin

[pachyderm]

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Maven said:

The sad and frightening thing is, the majority of the USA and probably the world have a lot of misconceptions and just plain dumb ideas about the mentally ill, and some have the power to bully and force people to be discriminated against, restrict our rights, and treat us like second-class citizens!!! I'm so mad right now!!!

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They, of course, have no mental problems of any kind.

"Leprosy" used to be the scary one. Until it was found what caused it and is now called Hansen's Disease. Now it's "mental illness."

[nothemama8]

if we were a money making project then they would welcome us, in reality without us they would be out of jobs, such as the drug companies, Doctors, T's, aand Hospital workers

[ECHOES]

Well crap, if they can run for office, they can vote darnit. lol

[January]

I couldn't care less what other people think. That's their problem. I proudly vote in every election and intend to keep doing it until I die.

Jan

<font color="#000088">I voted once! But since I'm mentally ill, it probably sent the bad vibes that caused the Monica Lewinsky Drama!LOL...J/K I did vote though, but I agree that if the mentally ill can run for office, that we sure should be able to vote! Abraham Linchon(I can't spell his last name right now)was Bi-Polar! So if an actual President can be mentally ill, than yeah, we should definately have every right to vote!
I actually read that info., in a book of famous people with Mental Illnesses!</font>

[DocClyde]

I think there are always those who have different opinions than others...some are complete idiots about it, some mean well, but dont understand, and really want to learn more. Lets hope that those who want to learn more are the ones that out number the first one...

There's always some idiot LOL

[Maven]

My problem is, some people with opinions like this have power, and will try to use it to take away our rights. Look how many people believe you should be forced into treatment or to take medication (never mind the side effects, never mind not knowing what these pills and meds may do to us long-term, never mind what negative effects they have on us long- or short-term; they don't have to live with it, so who cares?). Many believe we need to be "protected" and "controlled," even if we've done nothing wrong and have shown ourselves capable of living responsibly, even if we have problems to deal with sometimes. Many want to deny us things, based on what we might do (this is a THOUGHT CRIME!!! In the US, we're not supposed to be able to remove someone's rights and freedoms based on what we think they might do!!!).

[Rhapsody]

I personally took the poll and answers as saying......... Mentally Ill / Challenged is a person that can no longer take proper care of themselves, therefore, their mind and wits are not with them to make a rational decision.

..... like I was when I went thru my mental break down ten years ago - I was no more capable of deciding how to cook a scrambled egg (boiled or pouched) - let alone decide who should run our country.

I personally do not think they were talking about us here as we are now - - - due to the fact that while we may still have a slight mental illness (condition) we must live with every day we are no longer mentally challenged - there is a difference.... just ask the patients in a state mental hospital.

[meander]

You may be right, Rhapsody, but the way they phrased it is a sweeping generalisation.... I see why Maven's angry.

Justice- Winston Churchill, the British leader during WWII had depression as well...

<font color="#000088">That's interesting,I didn't know that about Winston Churchill, but that just says that even some of our historic leaders in the world, were Mentally Ill! So to Generalize it,like I do believe that Maven mean't they were doing, is wrong. Even Albert Einstein was Bi-Polar, and Leanardo DiVince, the great artist! Both Bi-Polar! But Geniouses in thier lifetime! Why take thier right away to vote through our generation today, by jumping to conclussions that all Mentally ill our incompetant. You say "Ask the patients in the State Mental Hospital"? Each time, but the last,I was put in there just because I cut myself on purpose. But I was still perfectly competant to make a decision, regarding the voting process! Some of us here are still actively SI'ing, but are not locked in the State Mental Hospital! So you really can't say that everyone in there, really belongs in there! Some do, but not all of them!
So, I do believe that the Mentally Ill have every right to vote! </font>

[SeptemberMorn]

I think the question should be "should the mentally ill be allowed to hold office," don't you?

There are sure some real nut jobs in high places nowadays!

[Maven]

That's for sure, SeptMorn!

But if someone advocates denying any mentally ill persons--even severely mentally ill persons--I assume their reasoning is that a mentally ill person may not be able to judge correctly, get confused or understand the issues and candidates, and may not be able to process all the information. So...shouldn't we deny people of a certain lower level of intelligence the right to vote, too? Should people who didn't graduate high school be allowed to vote? People of a certain IQ? People who certain other people just happen to disagree with and deem unintelligent? People whose ideas are unusual?

And who would get to decide who doesn't deserve the right to vote?

It just seems to me, if I live in a country where the laws and people affect me, I should have some say in it.

And, just to be clear, I don't think anyone's trying to take our right to vote away (but I haven't really investigated what's going on in the US regarding this potential issue), but the fact that there are people who would, makes it important to educate people who might someday have the power to.

[(JD)]

Well, then, that begs the question (IMO) should the mentally unwell be allowed to be therapists, medical doctors?

Perhaps it might be better stated, "Should psychotically ill people be allowed to vote?"

What say you?

[Maven]

It's a good question...if you take a person's right to vote, what's next?

[biiv]

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SeptemberMorn said:
I think the question should be "should the mentally ill be allowed to hold office," don't you?

There are sure some real nut jobs in high places nowadays!

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</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Maven said:
That's for sure, SeptMorn!

But if someone advocates denying any mentally ill persons--even severely mentally ill persons--I assume their reasoning is that a mentally ill person may not be able to judge correctly, get confused or understand the issues and candidates, and may not be able to process all the information. So...shouldn't we deny people of a certain lower level of intelligence the right to vote, too? Should people who didn't graduate high school be allowed to vote? People of a certain IQ? People who certain other people just happen to disagree with and deem unintelligent? People whose ideas are unusual?

And who would get to decide who doesn't deserve the right to vote?

It just seems to me, if I live in a country where the laws and people affect me, I should have some say in it.

And, just to be clear, I don't think anyone's trying to take our right to vote away (but I haven't really investigated what's going on in the US regarding this potential issue), but the fact that there are people who would, makes it important to educate people who might someday have the power to.

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