From: sonyazal@juno.com
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 12:27 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: commercial speech

dear fda officials
i am writing to implore you as the defender of public interest in the
marketplace NOT to allow expansion of constitutional protections for
"commercial speech."

as you know, part of the reason for the huge continuous increase in the
cost of pharmaceuticals in this country is driven by the high cost of
drug company advertising.

there is NO even playing field. the public cannot reply to the drug
companies; there is no way to counter their manipulation of the public
because the public has no access to funding or direction to do so. 

ditto with fast food and other corporate entities versus the public.

if you allow expansion of those commercial speech rights, your role in
protecting the public will be even more diluted.

public health should be your primary goal, not expanding rights of
corporations. indeed, instead, you need to work to maximize your
authority to regulate commercial speech.

pls do your job for the people, not the monied interests!!

thank you
citizen sonya zalubowski
vancouver, wa.