What do these things have in common?

Can you tell me what the common denominator is in the four items listed below:

1. Your Amazon Prime membership
2. A membership to the local gym
3. A subscription to your favorite magazine
4. Renewed funding for the Special Diabetes Program-Type 1

Got your answer?

I hope that you said all these things require that you renew them, after consideration.  Do you really use your Prime membership enough to justify the $99/year?  Do you really go to the gym frequently enough to justify the monthly fee?  How many of those magazines are still sitting in a pile, never having been read? Lastly, Have all the cases of Type 1 diabetes been cured and no more people will ever suffer from it again?

I really think that this is a no-brainer. Maybe I am wrong?  In 2015 Congress reauthorized the funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which includes the Special Diabetes Program-Type 1, for 2 years. The quote below is from the American Diabetes Association Website, Diabetes.org:

“The American Diabetes Association has long been a leader and partner in efforts to increase the federal commitment to cure and prevent diabetes and to address the diabetes epidemic in disproportionately impacted populations. Since 1997, a key component of these efforts has been the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (SDP-type1) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These two programs represent a significant contribution from the federal government to combat, prevent and cure diabetes. Both of these vital programs require periodic Congressional re-authorization.”

The Bill (S.747) (H.R. 2545) to reauthorize the program for 2 more years was introduced to Congress on March 28, 2017. The 2015 Bill would expire on September 30, 2017.  The funding was extended to December 31, 2017. Congress had to think about it before giving it a thumbs up for 2 more years. Now, there are two thoughts that run through my mind:

1. Congress being the omniscient legislators that they are, know something that we don’t. Perhaps they know that a cure is finally sitting in a research lab somewhere that needs until New Year’s Ever of 2017 to gestate and on January 1, 2018 there will be no more need for funding because the cure and preventative measures will roll out to the world, finally ridding the globe of this insidious disease.  I mean, every newly diagnosed PWD has been told “In 10 years we will have a cure for you and you will never have to worry about it again!”
2. The other thought is that not one member in the Senate or the House of Representatives either has diabetes or has a relative with diabetes, so they really are not impacted, directly or indirectly, by the effects of this disease, including emotional, psychological, physical and let’s not forget financial.  It is damn expensive to be able to afford to stay alive!

Congress approves and earmarks millions and billions of dollars a year for programs, studies and grants that are unnecessary and sometimes outright ridiculous.  You can do the research on your own – I found too many examples to include,  None of which included a study or program that involved saving the world population from a deadly disease – at this point it could be any disease, not just diabetes. Not ONE!  But congress funded a production of Hamlet, in a field, in New York. The characters were all played by DOGS! What?!?!?! (I had to throw this one in because it was just so out there.)

Get your act together Congress!  You were elected by the people of your state, to represent them and create and pass legislation that will benefit, protect and hopefully enhance their lives. We have to start with the basic needs. Until everyone across this place we call the United States of America has enough food to eat, a safe place to sleep, a way to earn an adequate income and last but not least, affordable access to health care to allow them to maintain their ability to live and breathe. Until then, forget about the non-essential requests that come across your desk. Renewing the Special Diabetes Program for Indians & the Special Diabetes Program – Type 1 should not be an option. It should exist in perpetuity until there is both a way to prevent it AND cure those who already suffer from it!

As a constituent, human being, PWD or a loved one of a PWD, here is how YOU can help:

Tell your elected representative(s) in Congress to support the SDP on January 19th, 2018.   Then share it with your friends and family, Instagram, Twitter, FaceBook, anyway you can get this out there.  Remind your representative in Washington that they are elected and may be replaced by someone who SUPPORTS the SDP!

 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you got something out of this rant. If you did let me know in the comments. Follow me because I have plenty more to come. Tell someone you know to stop by. Maybe they will like it too.  I you didn’t like it – leave me a comment. I am always open to other ideas.

Stay safe. Do good!

Peace+

Tim aka “The DiabetesDude”