What, you might ask, does
arch-conservative Tom McClintock have to do with the diabetes epidemic that is about to overwhelm every other pressing need on the long list of pressing needs in front of our lawmakers today?
At Monday's stem cell research press conference in San Francisco, I got myself a quick education in the broad implications of epidemic diabetes, stem cell research and the office of Lt. Governor. (Thank you to the folks at the Garamendi campaign for linking to video from their release.
All public health experts agree that a diabetes epidemic is overwhelming our already fractured health care delivery system. What is not well known is that we haven't seen anything yet. We need money for national defense? Schools? Roads? Fuggedaboutit!
More below the jump
In a welcome element of serendipity and Democratic teamwork,
Jerry McNerney and his smashing grassroots campaign to boot
R. Pombo out of Congress, are also speaking out in support of stem cell research and taking issue with Mr. McClintock. Hot off the "press:" here's a pic of
Jerry, John and Bill Clinton.
So, Just what are we talking about? From the California Center for Public Health Advocacy Legislative District Policy Brief No. 3, February, 2004.
Diabetes affects as many as 18.2 million people in the US, or 6.3% of the population, including an estimated 5.2 million people that have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is increasing dramatically among both adults and children. Among adults, the prevalence increased by 61% from 1990 to 2001. At the same time, Type 2 diabetes - which until recently affected only adults - now affects a growing number of children and accounts for almost 50% of new diabetes cases in some communities!
If current trends continue, one out of three babies born in 2000 in California will develop Type 2 diabetes sometime in their lifetime, incurring significant medical expenses and shortening their lifespan by years. In the fast-growing Latino community, one out of 2 babies will develop diabetes type 2 sometime in their lifetime. Same bad news for the African-American Community.
Following the money; the expense to the state - which is all of us - are significant. There are estimates that in California alone, over $17 billion was incurred or lost in 2002 because of direct and indirect costs related to the diabetes epidemic!
That's "just" California. Here's what Dr. Mike Magee, writing for Health Politics has to say:
The financial impact of diabetes on our nation is also staggering. With a total cost of health care of $865 billion in 2002, diabetes accounted for about $132 billion of that. Direct medical expenditures totaled $92 billion, including $23 billion for diabetes care, $25 billion for chronic diabetes-related complications, and $44 billion for excess prevalence of general medical conditions. More than $40 billion worth of indirect costs were attributable to lost workdays, restricted activity days, mortality, and permanent disability due to diabetes.
Is it irony or cynicism that Tom McClintock, the extremist GOP candidate for California's second highest constitutional office, holds himself up as a fiscal hawk? McClintock not only led the opposition against California's daring - and successful - stem cell endeavor led by visionary Robert Klein in 2004; he signed the ballot statement against Prop 71 and fought against the ability of scientists working in the life sciences area to gain any traction on stem cell research whatsoever. (A tip of the hat to the good folks at California Progress Report who are paying attention to the candidates, their records and the race.)
But McClintock, who lost the 2004 round against stem cell research in California when the voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 71, has a back-door opportunity to dismantling stem cell research in California after all. If he defeats good guy Democratic candidate John Garamendi, McClintock's election will have a negative impact on families with ill family members throughout the country because California - where the research infrastructure is in place and the state budget is so large - is the state most likely to realize real cures from stem cell research.
And just how can McClintock dismantle stem cell research? The California Lt. Governor makes 5 appointments to the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee ("ICOC"), the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine The ICOC not only controls where the money is spent, it drives the vision of the agency.
What, might you ask, does stem cell research have to do with diabetes? Everything. Just about everything. According to Dr. Tony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, and a leading public health expert specializing in health threats to disadvantaged communities, diabetes might be one of the diseases most amenable to a cure from stem cell research.
On Monday, October 29, 2006 at UCSF, the campus leading the stem cell charge in California and the nation, Dr. Iton, whose affiliations include board service for the Public Health Institute declared,
"There is sufficient credible scientific evidence that diabetes may very well be cured in the human population by the advances already demonstrated in stem cell research in laboratory animals, in 15 years." Watch the young and eloquent Dr. Iton here. ."
Following the money: if embryonic stem cell research is permitted to proceed, experts predict that there could be a cure in 15 years....thus saving...in the 16th year, let's say, over $100 billion dollars for this one disease alone.
Broadening the likely impact of stem cell research, if we add in potential savings for patients suffering from Krohn's Disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, ALS and on and on and on....one might really have to ask--How is that Mr. McClintock fancies himself a fiscal hawk at all?
Isn't it more likely that Tom McClintock is a Far Right radical extremist who hides behind the mantle of fiscal conservatism when in fact the basis of his real objection to embryonic stem cell research is the same extremism that caused him to declare that providing abortions to poor women is akin to providing scotch to a wino lying in the gutter."
Maybe there's a reason that a recent RNC email claimed that there were 60,000 phone bankers using Arnold's money in 48 California get-out-the-vote call centers for Tom McClintock. Maybe this extremist is Arnold's gift to the Far Right in exchange for California conservatives holding their noses when they go into the polling places November 7th and vote for him. Is this a marriage of convenience? On one hand, Far Right phone bankers pushing the vote for arch-conservative Tom McClintock...and, on the other hand, hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance, pharmaceutical and oil companies pouring into Mr. McClintock's campaign account. Maybe the man really is a fiscal hawk, of sorts, at least in relationship to the wallets of the select few.
Now, in a growing wave of activism and awareness, several great Democrats are teaming up to send the extremists home! Team McNerney is waging the battle of OUR lives with Richard Pombo and, by extension, with Tom McClintock. Team Garamendi is locked in battle with Far Right Tom McClintock. In a gratifying display of team spirit, John, who comes from the Central Valley, has been appearing at events for Jerry. John's wife, Patti, has walked precincts in Tracy. And we're all together right here.
There is so much at stake for all of us in these races. If both Far Right Republicans are rejected November 7th with the obvious and invaluable help of the net-roots and grass-roots, we all win. And what a message we will be sending to all who are watching these campaigns!
Now it's time for all those who share our values to come together to combine our strengths.
So stay uninvolved in the 11th CD and in this statewide California sleeper race unless you happen to be related to one of the children that will develop diabetes sometime in their lifetime. Or, unless you recognize the possibility that sometime in your lifetime, you or someone you care about will be paralyzed after fighting in Iraq or being in a car accident, and that more of those you care about - and sometimes care for - will be diagnosed with cancer, or MS, or ALS, or Krohn's, or Alzheimer's.
If you're not one of those people, or a family member or friend of one of those people, maybe you can feel ok about risking the stem cell research effort in California, the state with the most promise in the life sciences. Although I don't always remember it, I'm not and I can't.
And if, like me you worry about letting science take a back seat to ideology and/or greed - and you want to protect the people you love - please get involved.
And, while DailyKos is likely enough to do the job, keep your spirits up by watching the ads on YouTube now running in CD 11 and by learning more about John Garamendi He's fought for universal health care, investment in alternative energy sources, and education. He's endorsed by Al Gore, Barbara Boxer, the teachers, nurses, peace officers, firefighters and the grass-roots progressive groups in California. He's one of the good guys. Act Blue. No matter where you live in the US.