Z, Your post makes our point ever more convincing. 500 (and even less than that) years ago, people were burnt alive for small disagreements with Religion. Today religious fanatics try to stop inevitable shift away from blind faith. And hopefully this silliness will be gone within next few hundred years. Unfortunately too many people suffer in the process. redduke
By the way: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5056554.stm Harward starts human cloning work. "The Bush administration has banned the use of government money to support human cloning research. But the world's richest university decided, after two years of vetting, to support and fund its project privately. "
The military industrial complex hasn't learned how to make money off of stem cell research. When/if they do, there will be no problem getting federal funding for it.
If there truly is potential for miracle cures, than funding should not be an issue and federal funding should not be required. This is an issue that shouldn't be politicized. The Republicans are doing their job, they are representing their constituency. The constituency that elected them to majorities in the House, Senate and Presidency. Fortunately for you, their time has probably come and no doubt the Democrats will trumpet these "miracle cures" at campaign time. They, like you, will portray anyone who disagrees as a religious fanatic, regressive, hate-filled person that wants people to die unnecassarily. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34167-2004Oct14.html All people die, their legacy is whats important. Norma L. McCorvey ("Jane Roe") has since vehemently denounced her role in that fateful decision. Like abortion, these advances in medicine will likely devalue our humanity further.
AT WHAT PRICE? humanity is an idea ... man is imperfect. In a rush to strip out all imperfections, the essence of what it means to be human will likely go with it. Gene screening, and egg selection .... The cat is out of the bag. It's going to happen. Order your children via catalog. Can't stop it ... Good or Bad, I don't know. I'm glad I won't be around to see it.
Isn't it true, that when properly explained, 75% of Americans agree with stem cell research? At least according to the Colbert report...
The numbers will definitely start to skew.... the Republicans will cave. People are suckers for "Miracle Cures". Hell, much of what's prompted this debate is the fact the Chinese are plunging ahead. The Chinese who turn to tiger-penis to get turned on. This debate (and its consequences) are far beyond what my tiny-little brain can fathom. I know nothing ..
Well, lucky for you, here I am to explain things: In a democratic country (I mean in a REALLY democratic country) the Prez or the Senators/Congressmen do whatever the people want them to do. Like in Spain. If Spanish people want their troops out of Iraq, the government better withdraw them, otherwise they get kicked out of power. As they were.... Thus if 75% of Americans want stem cell research, the Prez better listen, supposed he does what his constituents want him to do. That is called representative democracy. (of course it is not the case here if anybody noticed yet) Now, I am not saying the people are always right (there is no such a thing as universal right, by the way) but if they fuck up, they can only blame themselves. Democracy usually means, the rule of the majority...(and not the chosen ones or powerful ones)
Do you think you may be over reacting just a little bit? Do you use indoor plumbing? Do you use any invention of man? Do you go to the doctor? Or do you just pray: "God help me" when you are sick or need something?