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Spinerval
Member
Reged: 04/20/02
Posts: 192
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Of course I've oversimplified this, but the only way we're going to take our lives back is to become a unified force that endorses political candidates that are not inclined to ruin our lives. I'm sick of being undertreated for legitimate pain, as most of you are as well. Given that the internet casts a wide net (just ask Howard Dean), I believe that NOW is the time to begin organizing ourselves. If there's any interest out there at all, we'll proceed step-by-step, w/appropriate advisement from people who have done this before.
This is what we'd have to do:
1) Recognize that our ultimate goal is to form a big voting block. Now, of course you realize that we'd likely end up supporting the more liberal candidates, given that the current political administration is desperately trying to make life as hard as possible for sick people.
2) We'll need a Website/Webmaster.
3) We need to register as a PAC (Political Action Committee---easy)or something similar.
4) We need to solicit help from other Pain websites and probably align with the Medical Marijuana folks. They're pretty organized already.
I think one of the biggest problems facing us is that people with our concerns are often housebound and fragmented. There are tons of chronic pain/disablity/right to die/personal freedom type sites on the net. We need to find our common cause, publicize, and vote as a block!! It may not happen next year, but ultimately, like AIDS pts., like labor unions, like the Christian Right...we'll be intimidating enough not to have to live in pain forever. I hope.
Regardless, do a google search on CHRONIC PAIN VOTING BLOCK. You'll likely see the Am. Pain Society site first. In it, APS emphasizes that chronic pain pts. would indeed be significant if organized. Given the pure brilliance of some of the posters on this site, I'm encouraged by the possibility.
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Spine,
As you know, I'm with you all the way, and I'm willing to devote my time to getting this off the ground. If anyone has any ideas about organizations we could align with, please pm me. Let's do it, folks. Power to the people, right on.
Also, anyone out there with an inclination to help should read Snooter's posts.
Sheena
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
Edited by sheenafur (11/09/03 02:22 PM)
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zorg
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/02
Posts: 559
Loc: Midwest
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One problem, no viable candidate to vote for that will support the issue
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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I realize you said "viable," but what about Kucinich (oy, have no idea if that's spelled correctly)?
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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Spinerval
Member
Reged: 04/20/02
Posts: 192
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Candidates support issues if there are enough votes behind the issues. The "no viable candidate" arguement was the initial stumbling block to many successful lobbying efforts. Look, we have to try. Maybe it won't happen in a year. But I do believe that CP patients, terminal illness pts, pain docs, the APS etc. will all align w/ us.
I just worked to get the first democrat elected in 24 years in an area that is 80% Republican. Everybody told me: no chance. We took 70% of the vote. Yeah, that's a local election; however, if there's passion among the people, they'll support our ISSUE with their vote, and candidates will support our issue w/an expectation for votes.
Believe.
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537
Threadhead
Reged: 12/08/01
Posts: 761
Loc: west coast CA
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Would you be willing to support a Republican candidate who was on Chronica Pain Patients' side?  
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Obviously, I'll let Spinenerval answer for himself, but here's my two cents: I come from a very long line of die-hard Democrats. Until a few years ago, I voted Dem no matter what. I have now declared myself an Independant, and I'll vote for whose platform/background impresses me most--yup, even if it's a Republican (although this hasn't happened yet!) If a Republican candidate backs aid for CP sufferers AND the rest of his platform is to my liking (long shot, I'll admit), then why not? He/she would have to be an anti-Bush Repub, though. Well, I guess none of this is really making sense. Vote for the best candidate, regardless of the party, is what I'm saying. This argument is totally dismissed, however, in the case of a situation like the Gore/Bush/Nader election. Nader had NO chance of winning, and if the people who had voted for Nader had gotten a clue and voted for Gore, well...who knows how different things would be right now.
Here in SF, we've got a mayoral run-off between two Democrats...one (Gruesome Newsome), who really isn't a Democrat at all!
Okay...I'm done.
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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Spinerval
Member
Reged: 04/20/02
Posts: 192
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I would support any non-Bush, non-Cheyney, non-Ashcroft candidate who worked to make things better for CPers. I always vote "issues" rather than parties. Admittedly, from what I've seen of Ashcroft's attack on, say, Oregon, I'm not a fan of the current administration. Nor am I delighted about B/C/A's DEA busting elderly/sick beneficiaries of Medical Marijuana. A wonderful friend of mine in California, recently died from something called "wasting syndrome"---he starved to death after being deprived of Maribol (sp?), a medical derivitive of marijuana in pill form, which, for a variety of reasons, was helping him stay alive and go to work. (He was an AIDS pt. who contracted the disease from a long-ago blood transfusion.) That's supposed to be ok, right? To let someone die in pain when there is an easy and available medicine to relieve some of the misery? Nah, not in my book.
By the way, "Spinerval" refers to what I used to do before I got very sick----spin the gears on my bike (mountain.) I'm a she; not a he. I would like to be in less pain not so I can resume my old hobbies, but so I can be a better wife, mother, and citizen. That's all.
MLK, Women who wanted to vote, those who formed labor unions, and the inventor of the VCR were all told repeatedly: No one is interested in your cause. Oh, really?
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Spine,
Please forgive me. I don't know why I am forever confusing people's genders here. And we've even pm'd back and forth a few times! People, for instance, are always confusing me for a man, what with my name and avatar! (just kidding)
The most important factor about you, however, is your true common sense and your compassion.
You, go, girl!
Sheena
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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