Re: PD and politics

[Kathleen Cochran <cochrank@xxxxxxx>]

Well said, Linda.

Medical breakthroughs, if they come, will occur in spite of this
administration; and it would not be surprising if they came from
somewhere other than the U.S.

Kathleen




-----Original Message-----
From: ljherman1@xxxxxxxx <ljherman1@xxxxxxxx>
To: PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent:         Mon, 26 Sep 2005 21:34:25 GMT
Subject: PD and politics

  TO anyone who thinks that finding the cure for Parkinson's, doesn't
involve politics is living with their head buried in the sand. The
Parkinson's community learned this lesson during the three year
struggle to pass the Udall bill. If we hadn't become political at
that time - PD research would still be receiving the lowest funding
of all chronic illnesses. We turned that around -- by political
activism.

To those of you who don't want to discuss politics - i have just one
question - Where do you think the billions of dollars being spent to
fight the war in  Iraq are coming from? Bush's budget for the NIH
this year proposed a 1/2 percent increase. Congress is expected to
increase it a little, but the net funding will still be less than
last year, due to the rate of inflation. Medical colleges that train
the next generation of researchers are hurting financially due to
cuts in their funding.

The advice of scientists - experts in their fields - is being
ignored by the current administration in favor of the opinions of
religious  fundamentalists and noeconservatives. Medical advisory
committeess have been stacked with those who share the President's
social and religious beliefs.  Scientific associations have termed
Bush the most anti-science President in history.
I will save stem cell research issues for another time.
It absolutely matters who is sitting in the White House and in the
chambers of Congress.
IN the current political environment in the U.S. - do you really
expect any medical breakthroughs any time soon?

Linda

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