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Dear Friends with Whom I Share the Daily Drudge of Dealing with PD, First, Like most of you, I have days when I just can't function. And that means I can't get out of bed, let alone read e-mail. So, I have admittedly missed a few of the political threads. But I've read enough to know that those who write them have given the e-mails careful thought before posting them. Regardless of which "side" any of us take on the issues, it seems clear we have some very intelligent people on this list who are writing some pretty sophisticated and well-reasoned posts to espouse their particular viewpoint. PD robs us of so much. It is so easy to become complacent about most happenings in our lives. So, it seems to me it has to be beneficial to all of us if we engage in the mentally stimulating exercise of challenging our remaining brain cells to "Bash Bush", "Bash the Bush Bashers", "Bemoan the proliferation of political pundits on the list", etc., etc. There is so much political divisiveness in our country that it can hardly seem surprising that it spills over into e-mail lists. I subscribe to several non-PD related lists and they all have a similar situation. It is just what people are thinking about a lot these days. If list members really can't deal with it, their right to a somewhat politically free list could be ensured fairly easily. Those who are writing or responding to politically based posts could simply make their subject line "Politically Oriented Post"; or "POP". Then if you don't want to read it, use your God given right to hit the delete key. It seems that way we can all get what we want/need from this list. Just my two cents worth. Our bodies are attacking us; let's not attack each other, too. Let's declare war on PD, not each other. With respect and love to each of you, Claudia -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 1:34 PM To: [log in to unmask] 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn