AUSTIN OFFICE is NOW closed. Documentary is in progress. Go to www.wildcattersseries.com . . . and watch this page for future plans.
DON WROTE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE MIDLAND COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER "THE CHAPARRAL" IN NOVEMBER, 2004.

The headlines in August cried, American Death Toll in Iraq Reaches 1000! Other articles also told of the more than 7,000 wounded soldiers from the conflict. No doubt both those numbers are higher now that it's November. This was and is very emotional stuff that causes people to become motivated to political action. It was on all the networks. It was a part of the discussion throughout the presidential campaign. I would like for you to consider some other headlines you could, but probably won't ever read, headlines such as:
American Death Toll from Smoking Reaches 1000 . . . For the DAY!
Yes, that's right, more than 365,000 per year, every year, for the past 20 or so.
Or this one:
Alcohol Related Deaths Total 93,000 for the Year.
Or how about:
Drug Abuse Losses to U.S. Economy Exceeds $ 1.5 Trillion Dollars Over Past 10 Years.
It is also estimated that the hospital admissions, including especially emergency room admits, are some where between 25-50 percent alcohol, tobacco or other drug related. All the above headlines would be more newsworthy if they were more rare. But it is true that the equivalent of three Boeing 747s full of people crashing daily should cause a great stir in our country. We have lost close to 500,000 Americans every year in this country for the past several decades due to two legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco).
Not to minimize the sacrifice of those brave men and women fighting for freedom around the world, but if you were to want to save lives and money . . . this is the most cost effective way to do it. During the election campaign this year, we were passionately and painfully reminded time and again of the Vietnam War, where we lost more than 55,000 U.S. citizens. But we generally ignore the far greater numbers of deaths in this country from entirely preventable causes. Not to mention the cost to their families and loved ones.
How could we prevent so many deaths? By marching in the streets like we do against these foreign incursions? By electing different leaders in Washington and our state capitals? By spending billions and billions of dollars on research and treatment? By taking personal responsibility for our smoking and drinking behavior? How about a resounding Yes! to all of these? Yes, it will cost billions of dollars and take many years. But it will save many more billions than it costs. And you can do something about it without moving to Washington or joining a research laboratory.

You can be part of the solution not the problem. Take personal responsibility for your own actions. Reach out to those staggering toward slaughter. Be proactive for those in trouble. Serve your fellow human beings in any way that your heart leads. If your action is an act of love, God will join you. And with God all things are possible. Don't give up before the miracle.
Email me (badjesse@juno.com) with feedback on this or any other articles on this website. The sole responsibility for content is mine.
thanks for caring,
e don poage