Charlie Meyer--if you feel called to attempt this assignment, more power to you--you came to mind immediately when I read the notice. Go for it! >Bob- > >I think that orientation is necessary and agree with it as a part of the >requirements. This committee must be able to look at the entire mission >of NIH. While one might be a representative for PD in the sense of >wanting PD to get its fair share it would be grossly unfair to not look >at the whole budget and health research priorities. I think that is >what happened to us before and necessitated the Udall Act. While I >fervently support the Udall Act it is a failure of NIH that it was >needed at all. It is our self interest not to need to put our energies >into fighting for equity in research funds with other diseases and >instead put our energy into educating ourselves and the public about PD. > >The struggle for the committee member is the same as that of the Senator >who is challenged with the choice of whether to support an clearly >unneeded military base in his state. Is he a statesman and vote for >what is right for the country or is he a representative of the economic >interests solely of his state and vote for the pork barrel. It >certainly isn't easy but what is necessary is clear. > >Charlie >******************************************************************************* >*********** > >Charles T. Meyer, M.D. >Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin >[log in to unmask] >******************************************************************************* >*********** Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 80/70/55 Oxford, Ohio http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm <[log in to unmask]> "Ask me about the CARE list for Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! "