Friday, September 24, 2010

The Purloined Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Report

Don't you just love a secret! Especially one that taxpayer money paid for, and whose information is now being hidden from the very people who funded it?

In 2007, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division commissioned The Fields Group, a nationally recognized hospital consulting firm, to perform a safety analysis of Milwaukee's facility. The report found:

1. Substantial safety issues for both patients and staff, rendering a dangerous work environment and a summarily dysfunctional therapeutic healing facility.

2. A definite need for more staff training.

3. A definite need for higher staffing levels.

4. A definite need for a secure unit for violent and sexually aggressive patients, to keep them from harming others, or a policy to send those patients to a facility better equipped to handle them, such as Mendota State Hospital.

5. Issues with the security staff. Removing the Sheriff's Department as the designated security team and replacing them with private security personnel left the entire facility at risk.

That is a brief summary of what was contained in the report; and the report was very thorough, a top to bottom review of everything that was happening at the facility, and everything that needed fixing.

The report was never shared with the top clinical directors at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. Only a brief summary, i.e., as outlined above, was given to the people trying to run the facility and provide adequate care. One can only assume that it was not shared because Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, under the direction of Scott Walker and John Chianelli, decided that the changes would be disastrous as it related to budgetary concerns. This is generally what happens when anyone puts money above the human condition. It always costs more in the long run. And believe me, the taxpayers in Milwaukee County haven't a clue about just how much this debacle will end up costing them, but they will find out repeatedly in the next decade or two.

What was done at the Behavioral Health Division to address the concerns the report raised was absolutely nothing of significance. Now the report is being hidden again, from a County Auditor trying to find out what went wrong and how to fix it. The former clinical director I talked with reported that nothing changed after the report was completed. The report was obviously filed in the "Top Secret Don't Tell Anyone" cabinet. Who has access to The Fields Group's report? These are the real criminals and the real perpetrators of the ultimate heinous acts that did occur.

Now any reasonable person does not want slick, lying and unscrupulous people anywhere near their money. Bernie Madoff was slick, lying and unscrupulous, but he knew how to play the game and promote an image of a kindly, benevolent, wonderful human being who was going to make you rich. Many people believed in Bernie Madoff and they lost a great deal of their money. Good people of Wisconsin, don't be fooled by the clean-cut, Republican boy running for Governor. He just doesn't have the smarts, even when given the appropriate tools to do the job. Not qualified? That would be an understatement and a compliment.

The Wisconsin gubernatorial election has gone from politics to theatre. It is a tragedy, not a comedy. Frankly, given the differences between Scott Walker and Tom Barrett, the election should be a no-brainer; but then, there is no end to the denial in which people are capable of indulging. Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division is a point in fact.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Milwaukee County Ethics Board

I recently received a letter from Veronica W. Robinson, Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Ethics Board. Sheeeeessss..... what a HUGE job she has. Although.....it doesn't really appear anyone is actually doing this job, in light of recent events at the Behavioral Health Division.

Anyhow, the letter was personally addressed to me and was signed by Ms. Robinson, although it purported to be a mass-mailing to all recent retirees, reminding them of their obligation to promote ethical behavior through voluntary compliance with Milwaukee County's Ethics Code. Included with the letter was a brochure describing what an ethics code is and how it impacts former employees. It also lists some restrictions in place for former employees. None of this is really applicable to me.

I am writing a blog that sometimes points out the failings of our local government and puts our local elected official, County Executive Scott Walker, in, admittedly, a very bad light. I don't put Mr. Walker in this bad light. Mr. Walker does this all by himself by his incompetence and unwillingness to effectively govern. Mr. Walker is a poster child for the new Republican Party, the Party of "NO". However, even the Party of No has to retreat and regroup when such outrageous events as the Behavioral Health Division debacle forces them into the corner of election-losing bad public relations. Currently, Mr. Walker is discussing all the money he's going to pour into BHD to fix the problems. FAT CHANCE. But I digress.

For Mr. Walker, or anyone in his administration to send me a letter and a brochure on Ethical Behavior is laughable. I'm not the one ethically challenged here. For the Party of No to attempt to quash my first amendment right of free speech is a statement of just how far removed these politicians are from the United States Constitution. A vote for Scott Walker for any political office is equivalent to signing up for a cultural diversity seminar put on by the Nazi Party. Wake up and smell the stench, folks. The State of Wisconsin needs an intelligent leader, not a poster child with an empty head. Mr. Walker fits the rhetoric of his party, but the Emperor is not wearing any clothes. Off with my head, maybe! But I'll continue to write the naked truth.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and why it's passe.

I've decided that a simpler test can be given to anyone to sum up their current
psychological state.

Here goes:

1. In one word, describe the current situation of your life.

2. In as few words as possible, state the one thing you would have/do that would drastically change your life.

3. In one word, tell me what you hate.

4. In one word, tell me what you love.

5. In one word, describe your personality.

6. In one word, describe your romantic history.

7. In one word, describe your relationship with animals.

8. Name one thing to which your feelings are consistently consistent.

9. Name one thing to which you feel absolute apathy, i.e., don't give a rat's ass.

10. Name your favorite television show.

11. Name the television show you absolutely detest.

12. What is your favorite movie.

13. What is the most stupid movie you've ever seen.

14. What is the one thing you would change about yourself.

15. What is the one thing you would never change about yourself.

16. In one word, sum up the world you're living in.

17. Who do you hate.

18. Who do you love.

19. Who would you most like to be stranded on a desert island with.

20. Why?


Okay. Take this test and e-mail your answers to me. I'll give you a psychological profile of yourself.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

I've decided to blog about people I know with personality disorders. It's a cheap and fun way to entertain myself. I am hopeful that some of these people will recognize themselves in these paragraphs, and get some much needed psychotherapy. Nice people like me, and probably you, shouldn't have to keep putting up with these train wrecks.

I do not intend to be subtle. Subtlety on a person with a personality disorder never works.

So.....even though I will change names to protect the emotionally impaired, it shouldn't be too hard for anyone to figure out who I'm talking about. If you recognize yourself here, GOOD. GET SOME HELP and stop your maddening behavior. No one likes you but you.

Overview of Narcissistic personality disorder:

A condition in which there is an inflated sense of self-importance and an extreme preoccupation with one's self.


Symptoms of Narcissistic personality disorder:

*Reacts to criticism with rage, shame or humiliation.

*Takes advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals.

*Has feelings of self-importance.

*Exaggerates achievements and talents.

*Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love.

*Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment.

*Requires constant attention and admiration.

*Disregards the feelings of others and lacks empathy.

*Has obsessive self-interest.

*Pursues mainly selfish goals.



If you have an insufferable friend who honestly believes they are better than everyone else, please direct them to this blog.

Things to know about people with personality disorders:

1. If they don't get what they want, there will be hell to pay.

2. They don't like honest people. Of course, who does? Most people are perpetuating one sort of lie or another. The problem is, the more honest a person is, the easier it is for them to spot a liar. Narcissists, by their very nature, are huge liars.

3. A narcissist will go to unbelievable lengths to promote an image that has nothing to do with reality; to the point it becomes their reality. Therefore, narcissists can't be honest or open with anyone with any consistency. Lying, even just to oneself, takes an enormous amount of planning, energy and manipulation. Generally, these people wake up exhausted one day, and can't figure out why they're all alone.

4. Narcissists take. They take the lion's share. They steal the thunder. They take and take and take, hands reaching and grasping all the time. They do believe they deserve more than anyone else. Though they are capable of giving, they do it with clenched teeth and they don't necessarily like it. Their gifts are always setups for some future taking event. Giving interferes with the taking, and taking is the nature.

5. Don't feel bad if you forget to compliment a narcissist. They will get around to blowing their own horn. Always.

6. No matter how dismal a contribution a narcissist has made to life in general, in their opinion, no one has done more, done better or looked as good doing it.

7. A narcissist will spout off at the mouth about people, places and things they know absolutely nothing about. This is not coming from any knowledgeable base; a narcissist doesn't need to do research; no one could be more smart or more right. It is best not to invite them to parties where intellectuals are in attendance. Although they could provide entertainment fodder, they will hate you for life for putting them in a situation where they are asked to defend their ideas. They may be clever, but they just seem to lack that intelligent gene.

I'd write more about these people, but frankly, having had to suffer them at close range, I'm now closing this chapter and fervently praying I can avoid this personality disorder in the future.