Time for a little humor. I’m ready for it, even if no one else is.
It happens that today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Big Deal. If anyone reading this wonders why there’s no excitement or enthusiasm about the day here, check out the blog entry for last year’s suicide prevention day. Wesley Smith has written something along the same lines for this year’s non-event.
There’s not much I could write about the suicide prevention folks that’s not already been said in last year’s post.
So I was glad to see this show up in my news feed.
And – before anyone blows a gasket – please remember it’s a satire piece, not real news.
WASHINGTON,DC – Ex-Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) raised eyebrows again today in comments he made at an event to publicize “World Suicide Prevention Day.” On September 10th, events are put on to explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy and to put the focus on the need for more suicide prevention resources.
Simpson’s comments were made in response to a reporter’s request for a reaction after Simpson abruptly left a presentation in a large meeting room of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Experts from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Department of Veteran Affairs were sharing the latest research and strategies in regard to the problem of suicide in the elderly and returning veterans, respectively.
Simpson, known for his no-nonsense approach to public policy issues, appeared eager to give his opinion on the matter.
“As the co-chair of the President’s deficit reduction committee, I have to look at these issues without sentimentality,” the ex-Senator explained. “Frankly, from a budgetary perspective, it’s counterproductive to try to prevent the suicides of elderly people and veterans.
“The suicide of a senior who could live 10-20 years represents a huge cost-savings to the government and the taxpayers. That suicide means that tens of thousands in Social Security payments that don’t have to get paid out – and there’s an unknown savings in Medicare payments for medical care – but that could easily add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Read the rest of the article here.
Really. We can all use a chuckle.