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Bill, I liked your letter. I've adapted it and will mail to our paper. Maybe with a little luck it will get published. Nancy B cg for Don 64/14+ -----Original Message----- From: William Heitman <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, July 08, 1998 3:40 PM Subject: Letter to the editor (s): >Letter to the editor (s): > >I recently had the opportunity to go to Washington, DC as part of the >Parkinson's Action Network's fifth annual Forum. We "Parkinson's Activists" >spent the better part of a week (Jun 14-17) hearing about the latest research >funding, and how to approach Members of Congress. On Tuesday the 16, we >visited our lawmakers. We feel he public needs to know this about the >situation: The US Federal Government pays out a (conservatively) estimated >13.6 million dollars a day (or $5 billion a year) to maintain the status quo >for about one million American people with Parkinson's Disease (PWP). While >we are grateful for the cash, we would prefer a cure. However, that takes >money. > >We think we have a powerful case: > >If you had the opportunity to make up to a 1000 % annual return on an >investment, could you find the money? Like most investments, there are no >guarantees--actual results may vary depending on ongoing and future costs, and >the possibility that the desired result may be more difficult or expensive >than expected. However, it is also a potentially far better deal than just >1000 % return on the money: > >--First, the "cost to society" is $25 billion (five times the direct cost to >taxpayers). Saving that money should increase investment and yield more tax >dollars. Ex PWPs could buy stock rather than pills. >--Second, the 1000 % figure applies only to a single year without PD costs. >The $ 5 billion loss now occurs yearly. That is, investing now accelerates >the future when the US Government benefits by $ 5 billion a year, year after >year--forever. > >Lawmakers recognized the effectiveness of that investment last year by passing >into law the Morris K. Udall Research and Education Act. (The Udall Bill). >However, that Act only "authorized" spending. "Appropriation" of the funds is >still required. Only then does the required money go to work to save us all >big bucks. Every day's delay is another day of all PWP's lives and 13.6 >million dollars down the drain. Time is money. Time is life. Please help us >to preserve both. So far, there has been no money. > >The price tag for this investment is one hundred million dollars a year for >five years. This amount is not simply a nice round number. Distinguished >researchers huddled back in 1993 to decide how much could be absorbed by >projects of high scientific and/or clinical merit by the PD research and >treatment community. > >Deprived of this cash, researchers have proceeded very slowly over the past >five years. Many important projects are still unfunded. However, they have >proceeded. Many exciting leads are being explored, many more are planned. > >There you have it, the possibility for saving 13.6 million dollars a day, the >possibility to stop a horrible disease. > >How about helping us do this. Ask your Congress to pass the full funding (one >hundred million dollars) to implement the Udall law > >To call: dial the number > ` (202) 224-3121 The House of Representatives > (202) 225-3121 The United States Senate > You should get a perky "Capitol." Name the Legislator that you want to call. >They will connect you with his/her office. > >Best regards, >