From: DP [sheram98@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 7:36 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov

Dear FDA Representative:

I am writing to voice my strong opinion that it is
essential that the FDA retains its authority over
commercial advertising of products and its power to
restrict this advertising ("commercial speech").

Individual citizens cannot compete with corporations
in terms of making full use of their speech rights,
due to the fact that individuals rarely, if ever, have
the kind of financial backing needed to combat th huge
advertising campaigns that corporations are able to
wage.

It is crucial that the advertising of tobacco,
alcohol, gambling and pharmaceuticals be reigned in
for uses more than mere sales. Vigorous, long-standing
corporate advertizing campaigns have erroded much
erroded the influnce of parents over their children
when it comes to teaching them about healthy
lifestyles. Besides the basic peer pressures, and
other such limitations, parents face tremendous
challenges when they are faced with arguing against
the highly scientific, sophisticated tactics used by
corporations to woo children to buy their products.
It is no wonder that instances childhood obesity and
type 2 diabetes are increasing at an alarming rate.

The responsibility of the FDA is to protect public
health, not to ensure the fiscal health of greedy,
powerful corporations so that they can exert their
desires to advertise at any cost to consumers. 

Direct-to-consumer drug advertising exists primarily
to promote the sale of drugs, not to educate. In
addition, advertising of tobacco should be illegal in
the United States. 

Sincerely,
Daal Praderas
3619 Sandwood St.
Lakewood, CA 90712

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