When it comes to mental illness, people should avoid commenting on specific cases because the details matter and only the professionals involved in those situations actually know enough about the state of these individuals to know whether or not treatment is warranted. I know "Free Britney!" is all the rage, but the Court does not order conservatorships lightly.

No one is arguing that asylums were perfect places. Far from it. There was a reason they were shut down in the 60s, but the alternative that we were promised never materialized either and the result is that we have severely mentally ill people wandering the streets now, left to their own devices. The results are all too predictable.