1.5%by hopeworkscommunityI heard a number today that left my jaw dropped and my mind spinning.  1.5%.

1.5% is the percentage of bills submitted in the U.S Congress that actually pass.  Less than 2 out of 100 come before for the president for signature.  I gotta wonder if we will even reach that this year.

I have been part of a training this weekend put on by the DBSA about how, when, and why people with the lived experience of mental health issues need to have a loud and persistent voice in the political arena.  A lot of specific information will be shared in succeeding posts.  This post is about the most important thing this weekend: 1.5%.

I dont know if my voice being raised will come anywhere close to having the impact I hope to have.  I really dont know.  But I know the consequences of my silence.  If the purpose of the legislature is to pass bills they believe are helpful is 1.5% the measure of their success??  Is there another business of any kind in the entire world that could survive that kind of success?  Think about it for a minute.  1.5% of fixed flats hold air???  Put your own example in there.

The result of my silence... the result of your silence-  1.5%.  The chances of legislation that improves the quality of mental health care in this country... much less than 1.5%.

I applaud the DBSA their initiative.  My choice is to no longer remain silent.  What about you??


hopeworkscommunity | July 27, 2013 at 10:18 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/plhDt-2oR