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Bill, You are so right. Bruce Anderson and I had a good dialogue going last week off list. He challenged me to go onlist. I have been extremely busy between work, starting up the nonprofit and try to titrivate my medications. Bruce was right in that he said they will yes to death but don't always follow through. He is right! For just one brief period let's forget about any preconceived notions we have as it relates to political persuasion. Economics 101- If we spend between $10 Billion dollars a year on Parkinson's treatments and lost productivity it would take a 100 years of $100 million dollar appropriations just to catch up to the 1st years expense of treatment. So far every year you only spend $100 million, you get another $9,900,000,000.00 in the red. Therefore, are you ready for this? We would be $99,000,000,000.00 more in debt after a decade. Bled enough already? Why don't we complain about this? Am I naive in thinking if we tell people this they would not be upset enough to say loudly WHAT ARE WE DOING????????????????????????? Bruce also said that one of the programs I was speaking about was just a drop in the bucket. I agree partially, but any money that is spent on this program (National Endowment for the Arts)when we have people suffering and struggling with chronic diseases is just beyond comprehension. We always say that this is a great country. I am patriotic, however, it is a great country built on the belief that the electorate will hold the government to high standards. This government was developed before the advent of TV, the modern media and the substantial lobbying groups that organize to make the decisions for us. Because in a capitalist society we are effected by money. It is pure and simple. Why does AIDS get 41 times the funding with only 300,000 more afflicted? Organization, mobility and strong vocal cords all built with money. Why does MS get six times the funding while they have less than 1/2 as many sufferers? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ How do they get that money they are more organized, mobile and vocal. It will probably continue as long as we let it. You have to ask yourself, it is right to give money for programs that don't return any monetary value while people suffer daily financially and most of all physically and mentally with chronic illnesses? Chronic illness that costs people their livelihood, ability to work and to socialize. And one more time with feeling: It continues to put this country further in debt both economically and socially. I agree again with Bruce after experiencing World Parkinson's Day and having our Rep. Thomas Allen tell me while avoiding any eye contact that he would check on the status of appropriations for the Udall Act. That struck a nerve with me. I looked him straight in the eye and said, Tom that's not enough. You not only should fight with your soul for this fight, but with every fiber of moral energy that you can muster to change the priorities of Congress. Now I know I am probably too much of an optimist, but I believe in a free society, we do in fact make the decisions when we want. We have let the extremist on both sides of the aisle run Congress for far too long. It is time we really make some noise with our raspy, low volume and monotone voices. Everybody open your windows and scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. Regards, Greg Leeman 37/7