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The Observer | www.theobserver.com
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Opinion & Viewpoints EDITORIAL A look at some stunning statistics about Lupus
M
ay is Lupus Awareness Month and locally, the Town of Kearny lights up Town Hall purple during the month – the color chosen to represent the affliction — to remind residents. But just what is Lupus? According to the Lupus Foundation of America, Lupus is a chronic (long term) autoimmune disease that may cause pain in any part of the body. As an autoimmune disease, it “attacks healthy tissue in the body.” It mostly affects the skin, joints and internal organs, the foundation says, but it goes well beyond those body parts. Shockingly, 9 of 10 people who suffer from Lupus are women. It develops mostly in women 15 to 44, but has a much higher incidence in the Black, Asian-American, Latino, Native-American and Pacific-Islander communities. Other statistics, the Lupus Foundation says, include: n Around 1.5 million Americans and 5 million worldwide suffer from Lupus. n The symptoms of the disease are wide-ranging. According to the LFA, “people with lupus can experience significant symptoms, such as pain, extreme fatigue, hair loss, cognitive issues and physical impairments that affect every facet of their lives. Many suffer from cardiovascular disease, strokes, disfiguring rashes and painful joints. For others, there may be no visible symptoms.” n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 16,000 new cases of Lupus develop each year and 1 in 3 with it also suffer from one or more other autoimmune diseases. n Of all, the worst statistic is that there is no cure. And, 10 to 15% of all who have it will die prematurely. There are four types of Lupus: Systemic, which primarily affects internal organs; Cutaneous, which primary affects the skin; Drug-induced, which is brought on by high doses of certain meds; and Neonatal, which is caused, in-utero, by antibodies in the mother. It is estimated the cost to care for Lupus, annually, averages around $34,000. Lupus is a disease many have heard of but likely know little about, unless one knows someone personally who has it. So as we continue through Lupus Awareness Month, it is our hope this small piece might be enlightening — and we certainly urge everyone to take time to learn even more. You may do so by visiting www.lupus.org.
LaClair: Satter, though reasonable, is off base with term-limit views LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor: Jack Satter seems like a reasonable fellow. (Letter, April 27, 2022.) In his letter on term limits, he writes well and respectfully, and tries to see both sides. But when you read his letter carefully, you see a dynamic that is driving our democracy off the cliff. Based on his letter, two points resonate with Mr. Satter: politicians have created our country's problems and big money “nullifies democracy.” You can look for core organizing principles in anyone's writing: Mr. Rogers’, Mr. Rose’s, Mr. Canessa’s, mine — anyone’s. The core organizing principle in Mr. Satter's letter is that the problem alone identifies the answer. In other words, react to whatever makes you angry.
That does not work in life, and it will not work in politics. Instead of focusing on our anger, we should focus on solving problems. Politicians do cause problems, when they are being bribed to do the wrong things. Our problems have nothing to do with how long elected officials are in office. Term limits would not be “a beginning,” but only another step into the abyss created by well-funded propaganda and dark money. They have been tried, and have made no difference. Yet the people are angry, so they blame “the politicians,” completely ignoring the fact that there are good
public servants. Crooks will always try to get you to look the other way while they pick your pocket. That is what term limits are about: big-money special interests distracting the people from the real cause of our political problems, so they can put their boot-licking servants in power. They will always have a ready supply of them. It happens every time, in plain view, and still, good people like Mr. Satter do not see it. True public servants, on the other hand, are rare. We need to be able to keep them for as long as we can. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. It also triumphs when well-meaning people do not think clearly. Paul L. LaClair Kearny
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