X-Message-Number: 452
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 91 19:47:45 PDT
From: 
Subject: Re:  The Attack of the Killer FDA

So the FDA is attacking our right to self preservation.  Very well,
let's deal with the problem rationally.

The central question is, "Why?"  What's the real motive here?  What do
they get out of this?  Are they sincere in believing that they merely
act to protect the public good, or are they simply attempting to
justify the existence of their institution (and thus their
jobs/carreers)?  Or is something else involved?  Who benefits?

My first approximation would be that it's mostly a matter of self
justification, although I'm sure that many of the individuals involved
may also have some measure of sincere belief that what they do serves
the public good as well.  If so, then it will be rather difficult to
convince such people both that they do not serve the public good AND
that they are wrong to attempt to advance their own positions at our
expense.  Either one of those things would be a tough sell all by
itself.

If the FDA cannot be persuaded to cease and desist by direct
confrontation, then indirect means must be investigated.  Likely
candidates are Congress, higher levels in the Executive branch--and
last but not least, the courts.

The root of the problem is the meme-complex that motivates governmental
regulation in general and regulation of healthcare in particular.  The
de facto presence of such regulation since before most adults were born
leads many to assume that an FDA is just as necesary as the local Police
Department.  People want someone to be responsible when something goes
wrong--someone other than themselves.  They need reassurance that foods and
medicines have been properly blessed by the appropriate priest/beauraucrat.

In addition to discrediting the FDA as an idea, we should also try
discrediting the FDA's position with respect to life extension in
general and vitamin/mineral supplementation in particular.  The good
news is that the scientific facts are on our side (in fact, this is
probably our strongest point strategically).  The bad news is that it
can be notoriously difficult to convert this type of advantage into
satisfactory results.  Facts, especially scientific ones, are simply to
conveniently ignored.  Emotion sells, facts bore.  Just ask the nuclear
power industry or the evolutionary biologists.  So our strongest
strategic advantage is also our weakest point tactically.

Facts are best used in courtrooms.  For the general public, we should
emphasize the human/emotional aspects of our story.  The big bad
guvmint is beating up on us poor defenseless citizens who just want the
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of health.  Freedom of choice.
Right to "privacy" with respect to the maintenance of our own bodies.
Oh, and by the way, the scientific experts state the FDA beauraucrats
are attempting to outlaw perfectly safe and **effective** natural
substances.  Motherhood and apple pie.

We may be able to arrange or inspire favorable press coverage, which
may help indirectly.  (We should be pursuing this as a long-term goal
anyway.)  If the FDA does take the actions threatened, we need to be
prepared to exploit and amplify whatever negative PR for the FDA--and
whatever positive PR for us--such dictatorial, undemocratic,
unconstitutional and unjustified actions would naturally engender.

The Life Extension Foundation and Life Extension International should
consider a preemptive suit in advance of any FDA action.  Also, an
attempt should be made to internationalize the problem--perhaps there
are those in the Soviet Union (for instance) who would enjoy a chance
to champion a "human rights" issue where the U.S. Government is the
culprit!  A study of the tactics and strategies of groups that have
been effective in analogous situations--such as the Church Of
Scientology--would be in order.  However, I think that illegalities should
be avoided.

Most importantly, we need to ORGANIZE our efforts.  That means a new
organizational entity whose charter and raison d'etre is political
activism in support of the goals of life extensionists.  Such an
organziation must be separate from fundamentally business-oriented
groups such as Life Extension International or even (especially) the
various cryonics organizations.

Another avenue would be relocating the affected activities and persons to
another country where the regulatory climate is less hostile.

--alan

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