LA Times fails the paralyzed

With their blaring editorial, "No traffic fines for research", the LA Times has shown that it is an enemy of the paralyzed by both arguing against the need for a $1 surcharge on moving vehicle violations to support paralysis cure research AND by offering no other alternative to funding a cure. Remember folks, this is not an article, this is an editorial which gives the LA Times' opinion. 

I can respect the fact that they are entitled to their opinion; we all are. But what I can't understand is the irresponsibility of their editorial. 

A responsible newspaper would have offered alternatives to funding paralysis research on a state by state basis.

A responsible newspaper would have also talked about the costs associated to not curing paralysis.

A responsible newspaper would have talked about the money that has come in to California because California WAS financially supporting a cure for paralysis.

But these are not the words of responsible journalism. They are the words of a newspaper who on one hand empathizes with the need for a cure, but then condemns the fact that money is being spent on it AND more importantly offers no alternative. This is exactly why I use the word enemy of paralysis cure.

Oddly enough, I don't disagree that this is not the best way to fund medical research. The best way would be for a national or even international fund and leadership to cure paralysis. This way we would get the most bang for our buck and be able to use the best scientists wherever they live or do their research. I've said it before and I'll say it again; a Manhattan or Apollo project like scheme would soon see a cure for paralysis.

The problem is that this is not something on the horizon at the moment so we are stuck looking for alternatives and that means looking for money at a much more local level.

How I wish this editorial would have talked about a national strategy to cure paralysis rather than bemoaning the fact that Californians who break traffic laws will be asked for a dollar. An important paper like the LA Times could have an impact on a national strategy, but instead decided that Californians are not their brothers' keepers.

Here is a letter to the editor submitted by one of our Cure Captains in the Liberation War to Cure Paralysis.

We are not asking Californians to foot this bill alone, just to help the other states that already are doing it. My home state of New York is as are several others. The Spinal Cord Injury community is small in comparison to say breast cancer. Funds are desperately needed, how many of your tax dollars are already being spent on making building accessible, or going to long term health care coverage for the folks that are injured? Would you be as quick to say no if it was one of your loved ones? Do me a favor please visit Project Walk in Carlsbad, talk to those people about the daily hell they live in. Not one person in a chair wants to be in it. I have a 21 year old son that was injured and has no function from the chest down, he can no longer use his hands, go the toilet by himself. He was going to graduate last May and go onto graduate school. That is now a memory unless a cure is found. 12,000 Americans suffer this injury every year, the next one could be someone you know or love or even be you. Californians, please support this law.