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One of our senators ( Gramn ) is against. Senator Hutchison is non committal , so I call her office and write ( fax ) frequently. I don't know if that is lobbying or not. I surely do it. Nita Camilla Flintermann wrote: > Will-- I think the idea of a bunch of questions focused on PD $$$$$ is > good--perhaps the national PD orgs could manage to get this going? The > questions would be the same.,I expect, in every Congressional district--but > the answers would differ a lot ! Our own Rep. Boehner has always refused > to support Udall etc on the grounds that he disapproves of > "earmarking"---others would express their support, and this would give > folks some idea of where they stand. If "big business" can lobby, I don't > see why we can't continue to do so ! > > William Harshaw wrote : > > > >Remember that politics is merely the art and craft of deciding policy. I > >don't think P.I.E.N. should endorse specific candidates, but we could have a > >few litmus test questions for all candidates, for example: > >1) What are the public policy implications of neurodegenerative diseases > >becoming the second-largest killer, surpassing cancer, by the year 2040? > > > >2) How would you allocate funding amongst the neurodegenerative diseases? > > > >3) What are your views on the use of human foetal cells and porcine cells > >in research and clinical trials, and ulitimately in regular surgical > >therapy? > > > >Q2 is a real minefield. For example, should you fnd research to cure MS or > >PD? > > > >MS usually strikes in the second and third decades. Finding the causes and > >developing cures would mean that those who othrwise have MS - likely about > >three quarters of a million people would have: > >i) career earnings on which they would pay income tax > >ii) lifetime contribtions to social programs > >iii) a normal family life, with children, &c > > > >PD, on the other hand, usually strikes in the sixth or seventh decades when > >the estimated milion and a quarter victims are: > >i) past peak earning power, hence not a growing source of tax revenue > >ii) are consmers rather than contributors to social programs > > > >Carefully framed questions will elicit responses which will enable list > >members to mae an informed decision > > > > Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55 > 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 ! "