Another effort to educate and build awareness among elected officials and those who hope to become elected officials (also known as candidates) is being launched by doctorsofcourage.org

They are looking for help to “create a volume of literally thousands of letters that will educate federal, state and local candidates about chronic pain.

Linda Cheek explained that the organization–which she describes as small and hopeful–is working under the assumption that the problems that have been created for the chronic pain community are caused by government interference and political agendas.

They are developing a questionnaire–an ambitious effort that will result in 50 questions–that they hope every candidate at the federal, state and local level will answer.

Tonight (Monday January 6), her organization is holding webinar to discuss a questionnaire that is being prepared to send to every candidate in each state.

Here comes the rub.

They need help in each state.

“If we can identify someone from each state who will lead an effort to contact candidates in this critically important election year in their state, we might be able to create change,” said Cheek.

It will be a heavy lift

Candidates often have to be encouraged–aggressively–to answer questions that influential special interest groups (Chambers of Commerce, organized labor and others). The chronic pain community is not nearly so influential.

One other issue–as I pointed out to Linda Cheek Sunday night.

50 questions is a lot of questions—and to make sure the candidates answer all those question will be a challenge.

But they are to be applauded for the effort–to try and identify candidates who will support the chronic pain patient point of view.

Let us know if you’d like to help this effort by leaving a comment after this story. We’ll forward the comments to the organization and they ay follow up.

Also, let us know what you think of this effort?

Can it be effective?

Will politicians speak out for chronic pain treatment?

If you had a politician in your living room for five minutes, what would you tell him or her?

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