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Stem Cell Research Moves Forward In The US
maniacdavid writes "President George Bush has finally made a clear and final decision on stem cell research. He will allow the existing 60 cell lines to continue their development in the hopes of curing a disease. He said the choice was difficult because of his stand on against stem cell funding during his campaign. But he allowed the 60 to continue because the choice between life and death was already made. This is good for both sides and many people are pleased. " Granted, there's the issue of these 60 lines viability, but at least it's not a total federal funding ban, as was widely expected. As well, there's increased funding on stem cells obtained from adults, umbilical cords, placentas and animals - 250$US million this year, which is still a pittance when you consider the potentials of stem cells.
And just because lots of people don't believe something doesn't make it not true. Regardless of what you or I believe, truth is truth.
As to your supposed lack of evidence, there's plenty. For example, note that the Universe exhibits intelligent design. Explain how you can get complex life and thought from time + chance. The law of entropy states otherwise. If the law of entropy holds true, order cannot come from disorder. And therefore, everything is random. Including your thoughts. Which completely invalidates any and all argument you may make, because they are naught but random noise. Before you go citing a logic FAQ, consider that a prerequisite to logic is the ability to reason.
Explain how random process managed to create life thousands, if not millions of times over. The scientific fact is that mutations are simply almost never beneficial. The harmful mutations would have eliminated the species before the helpful ones took over. Yes, I know about the moths. Adapting a characteristic is hardly the same as inter-species evolution. Last time I checked, they were still moths.
Explain how scientests have never been able to create life in a laboratory, even with our intricate knowledge of biological systems.
Explain why the earth isn't stuffed full of trans-species fossils. If you've got millions of years of animals evolving, unless you have animals with the lifespan of several hundred millinnea, they're going to be dying and leaving traces. Given that amount of time, such fossils should be everywhere. But they're not.
Explain sexual reproduction. It's irreducibly complex and logically unnecessary. Why do we have it then? Just for pr0n?
Explain humanity. We think, we reason, we talk, we invent. No other animal exhibits these characteristics. Mentally, we're the highest life form on the face of the planet. Why not physically then? Does evolution decide to enhance one characteristic and not another? Remember, it's random. Go roll a die 400 times and tell me with a straight face that you're going to get a certain non-uniform distribution of numbers.
It points to a higher intelligence. But of course, that can't be possible because it means that you might actually have to adopt a little humility and acknowledge that there is a power higher than yourself.
So much easier to just not believe it, huh? Gets rid of a lot of those ugly responsibilities and moral obligations.
Just food for thought.
Having stolen the 2000 election, what makes you so sure he simply won't turn around and steal the 2004 one, too? Given the advantages to being the incumbent, it should actually be easier this time.
I'll believe there will be another free election in this country when I see it. I wish I had your optimism.
(of course, including the standard "real thought, moderators slap it to hell" disclaimer)
Well, as one of those "right wingers" that you so eloquently talk about, I'm pleased that the government isn't going to pay for science to harvest humans for thier cells. I agree that the research HAS THE POSSIBLITLY to lead to cures for many ills, but the chance that it could have saved your 2 grandparents and your wife's father, or my 2 grandparents or my wife's grandparents is conjecture only. Science THINKS that these things are possible, but science also was sure that the Earth was the center of the universe and that the world was flat and if you got to the edge, you would fall off.
Science should look at every option, and follow every research path, but federal money shouldn't be used for the harvesting of humans. Private funds and grants from private groups should be used in this case.
You are welcome to your belief that 4-5 cells do not constitue life, however, I'm sure you will feel different if you find your set to have a child and then it's lost during gestation. Those 4 or 5 cells become as real as any person and the loss felt is terrible. I pray your family never has to deal with that.
Does this mean if a woman goes in to have an abortion, the clinic will offer her cash for the fetus?
If not, where does the money chain end? The clinic? The Drs. at the clinic? When does something stop being "waste" and start becoming a "scarce raw material"?
Does the sperm donor (male) get any of the money?
I know foreskin waste (from circumcisions) is used to make skin for burn patients, but I don't think the parents of baby/child get any of that money, either.
For example, I'm envisioning a plan for America where the High School Gyms could be converted into "National Fornication and Foetus Harvesting Centers". High school girls could be impregnated and subsequently have their fetuses harvested without the inconvienence, embarassment, cost and (potential danger) of going to the abortion clinics.
This could be a great boost to the faltering economy, provide needed stem cell material for the aging population, and build college funds for those students who choose to participate.
If there is too much public opposition, another approach would be freelancing on ebay, somthing like "L@@K! Fresh Fetus! Low, Low reserve! Bidding starts at $10!"
Treatment, not tyranny. End the drug war and free our American POWs.
See my user info for links.
"You Nazis have committed unspeakable acts of utter barbarity against the Jews! By the way, can we see your research files?"
Bush revealed himself as a political opportunist with respect to this issue. This was not a decision made on the basis of any firm moral principles he allegedly holds. If he's pro-life, he sold the store; if he's not, then why any restrictions at all?
DFL
Never send a human to do a machine's job.