Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Bravo to President Bush for a veto on the embryonic stem cell (ESC) research bill. ESC research is junk science. Research on ESC has been going on all over the world and yet there is not one cure or treatment or even a human clinical trial of a possible treatment going on anywhere. However, adult stem cells already treat 65 medical conditions safely and effectively!
An article by Michael Fumento at NRO points out the junk science behind the hype over ESC research. But what I find most interesting about his article is the reason behind the push for taxpayer dollars to fund ES cell research — “because private investors know just how very unpromising it is.” Don’t you people in California wish you had listened to that fact before you voted to waste taxpayer dollars?
And just how unpromising is ESC? Here’s an interesting article from James P. Kelly, someone who used to support ESC research but changed his mind four years ago when he began to see how impractical it is to waste limited research resources. These are the facts he states as to why is he has changed his position:
1) Replacing cells without removing the cause of the disease cannot be a “cure.”
2) ES cells have the most basic research hurdles to overcome.
3) Unlike stem cells from adult tissues and cord blood, ES cells cannot be used directly in treatments.
4) ES cells matured in vitro (in a petri dish) tend to be genetically unstable and often function abnormally.
5) Adult cells have outperformed fetal and the embryonic derived cells for myelination, insulin production, and Parkinson’s clinical results.
6) Adult stem cells already treat 65 medical conditions safely and effectively — ES cells treat none.
While the truth behind ESC is enough for the President’s veto today, more importantly he did so for moral reasons. Human embryos are human! Creating embryos only to be destroyed for scientific research is immoral.
Now you know where I stand on the issue.
Absolutely correct take on it, Karen.
http://blamebush.typepad.com/ is a hilarious spoof site that has a cutting, satirical look at the President’s first-ever veto. There are so many other issues, like McCain Feingold, that he should have vetoed, but none more important than this.
Josef Mengele would have supported ESC research…
Bravo to YOU, Karen! Adult stem cells are our best hope for a cure of MS. (That would likely be Myelination?) How could I face a cure that cost the lives of countless unborn children? I’d rather die of a the disease, frankly.
Boy I can’t disagree with you more on this one. I don’t understand how he can march out “Snowflake Babies” as a reason NOT to use stem cells? Weren’t they created with Stem Cell research? C’mon such a duplicity there.
Plus, what happens to these cells when they are not used? They die! They are then not used for anything.
70% of Americans are against you and the President on this one. At least I am confident that this will be a thing of the past with whatever President is brought into office in 2008.
pb: you are absolutely brainwashed. You would rather die than “face a cure that cost the lives of countless unborn children.” Are you crazy? The stem cells used for this research NEVER would have become children. C’mon.
David: I think you are the one who is brainwashed!!!!!!!
And, for the record, I stand up for what is right regardless of public opinion. Truth and is truth no matter how many people may agree. Right is right no matter how many people may agree.
Please don’t call my friend PB crazy. New embryonic stem cells would have to be created in order to conduct the research. I’m against that and so is my friend. What the president has put an end to is simply federal funding of this research. If private parties want to fund research they are free to do so. My point was that they have not and that indicates a lot about the so-called promises of this research. That is why adult stem cell research has progressed — because there are viable treatments.
I certainly believe that you have the right to have your opinion on this. And obviously you guys are strongly conservative. I respect that. But, I am sorry to tell you that just like gay marriage views… in 20 years from now people are going to look back and say, “What were we thinking?”
There are 2 things that keep progressing and no one can really do anything to stop it: technology and freedom.
Just like in the ’50s with segregation those walls have come down with time. In our day we have a lot of walls yet to knock down. We just don’t see them for what they are.
I can tell you what my students think. They are 90% in favor of all stem cell research. And I live in a VERY conservative area of the deep south.
Not that it is going to change your mind, just thought you should know.
There was a very interesting line in David’s comments.”I can tell you what my stundents think.” When I was in school, I know it was a long time ago, the teachers were there to teach us, not find out how we thought. Do they now poll classes like the Dems do, and find out what the stundents think and then take their thoughts and feed it back to them? That’s saary. The Students telling the teachers what and how to teach. But in 20 years, when polled they will say it’s OK.