tim's journal

Reeve, Stem Cells and Political Hype

It really sickens me each time I hear Reeve's death used to push no-holds-barred embryonic stem cell research. It is manipulative and does not project truth. Notice I said "no-holds-barred embryonic stem cell research" - the media and propaganda would have you believe that the Democrats are for stem cell research and the Republicans are against this life-giving make-the-lame-walk research. Finally, CNN has a pretty clean piece on the subject.

What is the issue? The issue is not stem cell research as a field, adult stem cell research continues to be funded by the NIH. (In fact, this technology would have been closest to bringing a cure to what Reeve had - rather than embryonic stem cell research.) The issue isn't even embryonic cell research as a field, as the NIH is allowed to fund research on embryonic stem cell lines acquired prior to 9/1/2003. The main issue is whether the federal government should fund embryonic stem cell research without "moral" restrictions. Is it OK for embryos to be harvested for stem cells?

We got this super flashy multi-page pamphlet asking us to Vote Yes on 71. This thing is even scarier. It puts a bunch of borrowed money into an "Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee". Hmm, I wonder who will get to be on that Committee. Fortunately, the borrowed money (read bonds) are "self-financing". Ooo, that's a neat trick. I wonder if I can get a "self-financing" mortgage? But wait there's more! If you sign up now, not only will you receive this "self-financing" loan, but you'll even make money, with an ROI of 236% or more! Jobs, revenues, health care savings, cures for cancer, diabetes, severe burns, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, HIV/AIDS, Heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune diseases, Osteoporosis, ALS, Spainal cord injuries. Wow. Call now, operators are standing by!

More seriously, do check out the No on 71 page. There are some very good reasons to not get sucked into the hype.