Thanks Ron,
Look for it soon in the PD webring at the Maine Parkinson's Society Web site::
http://home.maine.rr.com/nesports/  - Greg Leeman

Ronald F. Vetter wrote:

> The logic is straight forward: If  a cure for Parkinson's Disease is found
> via spending  $100,000,000 per year for the next few years as authorized by
> the Morris Udall Act, the savings of billions of dollars each year
> thereafter will be a benefit.
>
> In addition, the millions who do not experience the losses of physical
> capability and the depression and helplessness of Parkinsonism will
> contribute more years of productuve activity rather than have to be taken
> care of for years.
>
> Something is amiss when we fund the Pentagon $268 Billion this year but
> provide the National Institutes of Health, America's federal research
> center, less than $14 Billion. A formidable enemy of the people comprising
> our nation is disease.
>
> The situation is going to worsen as the "baby boomers" age.  According to
> Abraham Lieberman, M.D., Medical Director of the National Parkinson
> Foundation and Executive Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Institute
> in Phoenix, AZ, at least ten million people in the US over age 60 are likely
> to develop Parkinson's if they live long enough.
>
> A Duke University Study found that each Parkinson's Disease patient costs
> $25,000 a year in societal and family costs in 1994 dollars.  One million
> times $25,000 equals $25 Billion current cost for Parkinson's Disease.
>
> Yes, I have a vested interest in seeing an all out attack on Parkinson's
> Disease. I am 'living' with this robber of mobility, I started taking
> medication in 1984 when I was diagnosed.(modify this to fit your situation)
>
> $100 Million a year to save $25 Billion a year - and possibly $250 Billion
> a year in the not too distant future is a bargain.
>
> The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives describes Parkinson's as "one of the
> brightest spots in brain research."  It is thought that research into
> Parkinson's may well hold the key to other neurodegenerative diseases.
>
> Please help!  Support fully funding the Morris K. Udall Act for Parkinson's
> Research and Education to a level of $100 Million a year. Do your best to
> double the NIH budget with emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases research.
>
> Sincerely, (add your name and address here)
>
> PS: CBO 3/98 budget information:
> year                     1998 2003 2008
> Defense                 269    306   357
> Domestic               269    317   367
> Social Security      376   471   614
> Medicare               218   306   448
>
> (where the values are billions of dollars) shows domestic spending is
> projected to increase more than defense, but the Medicare more than doubles!
>
> The increase of $230-billion in Medicare and $238-billion in Social
> Security dwarf the $98-billion increase in domestic spending.
>
> The $0.1-billion authorized for PD should be appropriated - because it is
> expected to save 250 to 2,500 times that amount each year.