"Integrated Approach" is a Euphemism for Business as Usual

"Change isn't going to happen by big government organizations. It's going to take millions of little organizations."- Pete Seeger

This is one of my new favorite quotes, which you can see in the right hand column.

I mention it this morning apropos of a Sun editorial headlined, "Integrated Approach to help chronic offenders is a positive step forward."

Let me assure you that any time you here this exalted phrase - "Integrated Approach" - you should run for cover.

Two years ago I attended a meeting of about 50 minds. Stockwell Day, The Nutty Mayor, Wally Opaque, Chuck Someone, Conservative Member from Somewhere, all The Usual Suspects.

We were sitting in leather armchairs in a board room on the top floor of an obscure building on Melville St. downtown. Security was tight. The media was there, but kept at bay.

Everyone spoke excitedly about how we were all working together in a new "integrated approach" to rid our communities of addictions, mental illness and homelessness.

We were all interfacing.

It was very exciting.

As you can see by the evidence, this group accomplished so much.

The truth is that human progress happens in tiny increments. A man over here does something. A group over there does something else.

Pete Seeger noticed that the Hudson River was a stink pot.

He built a boat called The Clearwater. He sang on the river banks. Soon, others joined him.

In a few years, they had cleaned up the Hudson River.

All the governments interfacing all the years did nothing.

And so it goes.

This new "integrated approach" touted by the paper this morning has one immense flaw in it, that even the editorial acknowledges.

THERE IS NO TREATMENT AND NO HOUSING AVAILABLE.