[NLA] "breaking news"

[JCretella@aol.com]

Andrea, Your response to Eileen makes a lot of sense and you would think that 
this is how policy makers do arrive at their  *solutions*. All advocacy 
groups should follow this kind of process when presenting requests or demands 
for better legislation and funding. Your  process does not include a couple 
of other considerations which are part of the policy makers process. First, 
how does this issue with this data relate to the pother issues we are 
considering. The policy makers need to make connections in order to solicit 
support from colleagues. This is critical in the policy making arena. No one 
issues isolated from others. This connection is related to the various and 
different agendas  policy makers have. I am mostly referring to national 
legislators who bring with them *pet* issues, ie gun control, welfare reform, 
education  issues, Tax issues, etc. Legislators and funders need to connect 
the dot. They are not stupid people. But they are often very narrow in their 
view of an issues. So your suggestion about providing data,etc. is  the way 
it should be...but how do you get them to read it?...by connecting the 
dots...sorry this is so long..Jay cretella at aol.com