I am a very frustrated Republican. As a result, I am violating a tenant here by throwing up a political post. The far right is pulling the party way too far to the right.The most recent incursion of this over-reaching is Bush’s veto of the recent stem-cell legislation. It is the first veto of his presidency.
Since having our children, my personal view on abortion have moderated. However, as our firm is an investor in one of the leading stem cell firms, Novocell, we have seen the incredible potential that stem-cell research has (and is manifesting). Diabetes, which affects an increasingly frightening number of children, can finally be brought under control. Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, the list goes on.
Bush first banned federally funded research on stem-cells except for a handful of grandfathered cell lines upon coming into office. Unfortunately, many of these lines have become contaminated and have limited value in future research.
Meanwhile, other countries in Asia and Europe push forward aggressively and threaten to surpass our Biotech industry. Also, every day, cells are destroyed from left over fertilization procedures. These are cells that will never become children. However, they have the ability to save the lives of thousands (if not tens of thousands) of children.
Popular opinion supports stem cell research by an enormous margin. Research, nationwide, is impeded significantly nonetheless. Research centers that have bought equipment in the past with federal funds, can’t use that equipment for stem-cell research. Since federal funding accounts for the vast majority of research funding, it is next to impossible to replace these lost dollars.
The elections can’t come soon enough…
I could not agree more with you. Republicans should be pro-business, pro-open markets, pro-competition. The current crew are none of these things. The extent to which they support special interests, market controls and the elmination of competition is reminiscent of socialism… And having grown up in Europe and seen the damage that does first hand I would hate to see the US continue down that road…
The thing I don’t get about both parties is that 70% (or maybe it’s higher) of the population never vote, and yet both parties continue to cater to ever small groups within the percentage that do vote. If you were selling a product in a market where only 30% of your potential customers bought, would you fight tooth and nail over half the 30% or go after the 70% that haven’t bought yet…
I could not agree more with you. Republicans should be pro-business, pro-open markets, pro-competition. The current crew are none of these things. The extent to which they support special interests, market controls and the elmination of competition is reminiscent of socialism… And having grown up in Europe and seen the damage that does first hand I would hate to see the US continue down that road…
The thing I don’t get about both parties is that 70% (or maybe it’s higher) of the population never vote, and yet both parties continue to cater to ever small groups within the percentage that do vote. If you were selling a product in a market where only 30% of your potential customers bought, would you fight tooth and nail over half the 30% or go after the 70% that haven’t bought yet…
First of all I really agree with fewquid that: “Republicans should be pro-business, pro-open markets, pro-competition.”
But to your post I would like to comment:
1- The media fails to inform us that it was about embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cell research is ok.
2- Let us not let what other countries do rule us (“But mom, all the other kids get to”).
3- “Also, every day, cells are destroyed from left over fertilization procedures. These are cells that will never become children.” – I know this is a logical fallacy (just can’t remember which).
4- Lost federal funding – I thought this was about competition and aren’t Republicans also about small government?
5- I stand with Bush because I do not think that our nation nor the world is prepared to deal with the future consequences if we follow this path (cloning, abortion, genetically modified superbabies (although modifying out some diseases is clearly good)).
6- Thanks for talking about your frustration. That is what America is supposed to be about- reasoned political discourse by individuals. By not talking we do more damage (Miss Manners was wrong…)
First of all I really agree with fewquid that: “Republicans should be pro-business, pro-open markets, pro-competition.”
But to your post I would like to comment:
1- The media fails to inform us that it was about embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cell research is ok.
2- Let us not let what other countries do rule us (“But mom, all the other kids get to”).
3- “Also, every day, cells are destroyed from left over fertilization procedures. These are cells that will never become children.” – I know this is a logical fallacy (just can’t remember which).
4- Lost federal funding – I thought this was about competition and aren’t Republicans also about small government?
5- I stand with Bush because I do not think that our nation nor the world is prepared to deal with the future consequences if we follow this path (cloning, abortion, genetically modified superbabies (although modifying out some diseases is clearly good)).
6- Thanks for talking about your frustration. That is what America is supposed to be about- reasoned political discourse by individuals. By not talking we do more damage (Miss Manners was wrong…)
Conservatives and/or libertarians don’t support government subsidies except in very narrow circumstances. If ESC research is really so promising, the pharm/biotech industry has more than enough capital to pursue it. It boils down to special pleading for special interests.
Conservatives and/or libertarians don’t support government subsidies except in very narrow circumstances. If ESC research is really so promising, the pharm/biotech industry has more than enough capital to pursue it. It boils down to special pleading for special interests.
fewquid, I wasn’t around and am thus rather curious to know what “damage” you actually saw?
fewquid, I wasn’t around and am thus rather curious to know what “damage” you actually saw?
There is obviously no clean answer to this debate (except for possibly getting adult stem cells to work or people freezing their children’s umbilical cord blood at birth). Unfortunately, adult stem cell solutions are quite a ways off from being a solution at this point. Also, too few people freeze their kids’ cells (which still doesn’t help someone who is more mature and did not do so).
So, the debate comes down to providing solutions for those currently living (kids with diabetes, parents with Alzheimers, grand parents needing hip replacements, etc) versus the right to life position. I respect both sides and see their merits, but have personally come down on the side of the former.
The tough thing here is that roughly 85-90% of basic research is funded by the government. Corporate and private funds can’t fill this gap. The prominence of public funds in all of this adds another degree of complexity to the debate.
There is obviously no clean answer to this debate (except for possibly getting adult stem cells to work or people freezing their children’s umbilical cord blood at birth). Unfortunately, adult stem cell solutions are quite a ways off from being a solution at this point. Also, too few people freeze their kids’ cells (which still doesn’t help someone who is more mature and did not do so).
So, the debate comes down to providing solutions for those currently living (kids with diabetes, parents with Alzheimers, grand parents needing hip replacements, etc) versus the right to life position. I respect both sides and see their merits, but have personally come down on the side of the former.
The tough thing here is that roughly 85-90% of basic research is funded by the government. Corporate and private funds can’t fill this gap. The prominence of public funds in all of this adds another degree of complexity to the debate.
Sorry this first bit is off-topic — just wanted to reply to Steve S. It’s a long list. France’s economy is hobbled by their ridiculous limits on the number of working hours per week (among many other things). In England you could start with the winter of discontent (that brought union-smashing Maggie into power) and roll forward from there. The more socialist-inclined the country the messier their economy seems to become.
Stem cell research is a fundamentally good thing. I think the real issue with a lack of federal funding has more to do with the combination of attached stigma and the just-plain-dumb mandate that you cannot use any equipment previously acquired with federal funds. That’s a nightmare for institutions to enforce and probably leads to buying the same gear twice — a huge waste of $$.
America has been built on innovation and commerce. The government should get out (and stay out) of the way.
Sorry this first bit is off-topic — just wanted to reply to Steve S. It’s a long list. France’s economy is hobbled by their ridiculous limits on the number of working hours per week (among many other things). In England you could start with the winter of discontent (that brought union-smashing Maggie into power) and roll forward from there. The more socialist-inclined the country the messier their economy seems to become.
Stem cell research is a fundamentally good thing. I think the real issue with a lack of federal funding has more to do with the combination of attached stigma and the just-plain-dumb mandate that you cannot use any equipment previously acquired with federal funds. That’s a nightmare for institutions to enforce and probably leads to buying the same gear twice — a huge waste of $$.
America has been built on innovation and commerce. The government should get out (and stay out) of the way.