If people believe that my original note was intended to stimulate an "academic" debate on health promotion strategies while people continue to suffer, then let me correct that assumption. I have been frustrated by what I see as a lack of action on social health issues because the advocates and the decision-makers have been so busy squabbling that people are being forgotten. For example, a recent study on poverty in Edmonton was dismissed by government because the statistics were two years old and researchers used the LICO (actually, half the LICO) as a measure of poverty. Both camps stood by their positions and refused to look for common ground. If fact, many important issues are raised by advocacy groups but they are either raised by groups who have developed a confrontational relationship with government and, therefore, are dismissed as hyperbole. Or the issue gets lost in accusations and blaming. Yes, we need to call the government on policy decisions which hurt or potentially hurt people but to consistently look back and blame everything on cutbacks can have an immobilizing effect. I would rather be part of the group that is in the game, working to find new solutions, than sitting on the sidelines criticizing both teams and dreaming about the "glory days." To everyone who has participated in this discussion, thank you for sharing your insight and experiences. Like many of you, I think this is an important debate for people working in health promotion. To Dennis Raphael, do not assume that I do not share your concern for the plight of people living in poverty. For, indeed, I do. In fact, I work in health promotion because I want to help find effective, sustainable approaches to the social problems that plague our society. It is a case in point that I felt you were attempting to belittle me, simply because we do not share the same perspective. Believe it or not, we are on the same team, working toward the same goal! Alana