Announced by U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, according to the local newsapaper The Advocate: “Introduction of legislation authorizing a postage stamp intended to draw attention to the disease of autism.” The Louisiana cadre of Unlocking Autism claims to be behind this.
It’s too early for proposed stamp artwork. The Young Albert Einstein?
The fictional Mr. Spock? Or maybe they’ll sneak on a portrait of Eli Lilly at the last minute?
A completely unfounded rumor has it that Sen. Frist would like to add a special 2 cents surcharge to the stamp with the funds helping to retire the struggling Pharmco industry’s campaign debts and thus maintain homeland security (not to be confused with the bank Homeland Security, for those of you in Rio Linda).
Actually, a better irony would be to save the Lilly image for a re-issue of the old mercury dime. This time, instead of having some unfashionably incorrect slogan with “God” in it, this coin would read “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose.”
Seriously folks, the issuance of an autism stamp would not only go far to raise autism awareness, but it would do wonders to help restore the tarnished image of congress for their clumsy insensitivity towards families with children with autism. This was in the form of hastily reveresed recent legislation absolving Eli Lilly of responsibility for their questionably toxic mercury additives to vaccines. Some content that the additive, Thimerasol, may play a role in the ever-growing autism epidemic. -LS