Do retirees have too much political clout in the U.S.?
MARC AGRONIN: Not by a long shot. Consider the following facts: We currently spend upward of $10 billion annually for research into heart disease and cancer combined in the U.S., and it’s money well spent. In contrast, we spend only about $500 million on Alzheimer’s research—despite the fact that it is the costliest of all diseases, afflicting over five million Americans and millions more of their caregivers. Why is there such a disparity with Alzheimer’s disease when, like cancer and heart disease, hardly a family in this country is untouched by this scourge? Where are the millions of fierce advocates for Alzheimer’s research? Sufferers can hardly advocate for themselves, and the average caregiver is an older, retired, time- and cash-strapped spouse who is overwhelmed with the daily burden of care.