Sacrificing social services is too much
Sadly these are times when we are called upon to make sacrifices for the greater good of the state. And in truth there are few of us who, on a professional level, cannot make do for another year with an antiquated computer, rusty desk, or rickety chair.
On a personal basis most of us can go out to dinner less, get along without a newer TV or car, or forgo a vacation. Most of us can even manage a small cut in our household income. It isn’t easy and we don’t like it - but that’s what a sacrifice is. However, some sacrifices are too great, too deep, too enduring to ask.
Even in times when sacrifices must be made it is in the better part of our nature that we, as human beings, do not question the expense of rescuing a hiker stranded in a forest, a boater disabled in a storm at sea, or a child who is suddenly missing.
We gather together both as paid professionals and volunteers and try to care for one another. We do not perform a cost benefit analysis on spending thousands of dollars to rescue one lost child, nor should we.
But when we look at cutting funding which supports rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, and other essential services we do exactly this. We look at the cost of saving lives. We ask victims to sacrifice their safety and their health. This is too much to ask.
It is not OK for a raped child to wait for counseling, a beaten woman to endure the abuse a little longer, or a bullied child to go on suffering the cruelty of his classmates because we don’t want to spend the money to assist them.
It is estimated that 56,000 victims of sexual and domestic violence will no longer be able to obtain help, and that 463,000 children will lose prevention education services. Numerous other areas, such as child care assistance, services for the elderly and substance abuse care will also be deeply affected.
Actually the funds we put into rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs and other social services are more of an investment than an expense. We are investing in helping a woman who was sexually abused throughout her childhood find the ability to cope with her pain, so that she will no longer need multiple hospitalizations each year for depression at society’s expense.
We are investing in providing shelter and safety to a mother and her children who live in constant fear of physical abuse, thereby reducing the drain on law enforcement resources. We are investing in the health and safety of our neighbors. And the return on our investment is a healthier, more functional community and an immeasurable savings on state-funded emergency medical care, a reduction in the use of law enforcement and the courts, and a knowledge that we have cared for each other.
Each of us can play a role in caring for our neighbors. Please urge your elected officials to assure that funds for social services continue and that they are not reduced. Some sacrifices are too great to make.
