Governments around the world support
much medical research and much of the
delivery of medical care. If IPT is to become properly researched
and widely available, governments will need to become involved. And
government, even in the most repressive states, is a fundamentally political
process, sensitive to the consciousness and desires of the people within the
system, and the opinions of people in other countries around the world. So
if IPT is to fulfill its potential, politics will need to become involved.
Since IPTQ.com is based in the US, we know its system best, and restrict
our discussion to this
country, for now. People in other countries will see how these ideas apply
in their own situation.
In the United States of America, government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for
the people. We all learn this in school. We also learn that
government is always, at least publicly, trying to give better services, and
trying to save money, and that it is always, always, trying to look good.
"Special interests", groups with self-serving financial interests, may
have a strong influence over things that are not in the glare of public
attention. But they tend to shrink away, and the politicians who run the
government tend to listen very well and take quick action, when enough people
are watching, when there is enough publicity, when there is a large scale public
demand and outcry.
Here is
IPT. It looks like it may be a better treatment for many different
diseases. It looks like it may work faster and cost less than other
therapies. Which means
that it could provide better results and a better experience of life for
millions and millions of people, not just in one country, but around the
world. It could provide huge long-term financial
benefits and savings, not just to many private special interests, but also
to the government itself. And perhaps most important of all, the IPT
story, if it has a happy prognosis, a happy ending, or perhaps even
better, a happy and long continuation, will look very, very good... Around the
world.
Conclusion:
IPT appears to be a good candidate for government support.
We don't want to make IPT a political football, as it is a serious medical
innovation that looks very promising, could be adopted very quickly, and needs a
lot of research.
But in a way, it can't help but become a political concern,
requiring political awareness and support.
We are in a sensitive window
of time in which IPT is just a seed. It is very small at the moment.
Few people know about it. Few patients have experienced it. Few
doctors know how to practice it, or even know it exists.
There are also a few
special interest groups who could face short-term losses if IPT succeeds, and
who might seek to delay or prevent such an outcome. At the same time, the
huge mass of humanity, along with other special interest groups, would benefit
tremendously if IPT proves valid.
And much of the research, when it is funded,
will be funded by the US federal government, probably through the National
Institutes of Health, which cannot help but be sensitive to political influences.
Could there be a more favorable goal than to support
such an initiative, for any political party, or for any politician?
You people in other countries can see your own national parallels.
My
great-grandfather, Selim Franklin, founded the University of Arizona in 1885 by
giving a rousing speech to Arizona's 13th Territorial Legislature on the last
day of their session. He told them that they had become known as the
"thieving 13th", that they had become known for drinking and gambling,
that they had proven themselves to be "contemptible and corrupted
characters". BUT, he offered, if they would just perform one positive
action, and establish the University in the city of Tucson, all their errors and
failings would be forgotten in the dust of history, and they would long be
remembered for this "one good deed". They all cheered,
long and loudly, and gave him and Tucson their prize.
This probably wouldn't
apply to today's politicians. But funding an IPT research and treatment
initiative would truly be "one good deed".
In the United States of America, it has never been easier to register
your opinions. Emails, phone calls, and letters to elected representatives
and to political candidates really do count. Besides sending
an email to all your friends about IPT and IPTQ.com, you can also send
email to the people who represent you. Here are links to help you do that:
People in many other countries can find email links for
their own governments, representatives, and leaders.