AIDS Treatment News #162, November 6, 1992
John S. James
If Clinton wins, the AIDS community must immediately attend to the transition. But even if Bush wins, the issues below are still critical; the momentum of the rethinking must be continued, so that the AIDS community can do better in detailing what needs to be done and advocating for it.
For several weeks the prospect of a Clinton presidency has stimulated new thinking among those concerned with AIDS policy. The possibility of a government open to rational and compassionate health policies is widely seen as the opportunity of a lifetime to improve AIDS research and development of treatments and vaccines, to develop effective prevention programs, and to reform healthcare delivery for the benefit of all. But the AIDS community must move rapidly to take full advantage of these opportunities; some critical times have already passed, others are between now and January, and during the first 100 days of the new administration.
Are we ready? Over 25 interviews with policy experts have given mixed answers. On a number of clear and easy recommendations, problems Clinton could fix almost with the stroke of a pen, there is very good consensus within and among the AIDS community, the medical community, and, we believe, Clinton's team. Here, actions likely to be taken quickly will build momentum and good will.
But on the most difficult questions, such as detailed recommendations on how to coordinate AIDS research policy and management among the many government agencies involved, discussion and consensus building have only begun. And few are yet willing to address the issue of which people to recommend for particular positions. Yet these decisions will have to be made in the next few weeks or months; to the extent that the AIDS community is not ready to participate, they will be made without its input. (The good news, on the other hand, is that thinking is fluid and open, without hardened positions or division into camps. People in the AIDS community basically agree on what is needed, and agree with what Clinton has said; where we lack formal consensus it is because people have not had time to think through and discuss the issues, not because of incompatible visions or goals.)
The article below is an interview with AIDS organizer and professional lobbyist Tom Sheridan, who worked on the transition four years ago when Bush was first elected, but has not been involved this time. We asked Mr. Sheridan to outline what an effective transition might look like, what went wrong in the Bush administration, and what the AIDS community should do now. We asked for an ideal picture in order to help guide the real-world efforts.
We hope to publish a separate article looking in depth at the transition proposals and preparations under way, and at some of the substantive ideas being discussed.
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