This Can't Be Right: US Leads in Stem Cell Research
After all the howling and moaning, after all of the demagoguery against President Bush's ESC funding, after being warned darkly that the day of US dominance in science was over, it turns out that we lead the pack, after all. From an editorial in the Financial Times
The FT yearns for ESC cures. But it omits the cogent truth that Bush's funding policies also successfully induced scientists to find ethical means of obtaining pluripotent stem cells--resulting in IPSCs and research into other promising avenues.As the FDA hearings demonstrate, the US has moved ahead of the rest of the world in stem cell research, as it has in almost every area of bioscience that really matters. The furore over President George W. Bush's ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research gave some people a false impression that the US risked losing its lead in the field to Europe or Asia. While the ban has indeed caused delay and inconvenience to American stem cell scientists, the overall strength of biomedical research in the country, harnessed to the availability of private and state funds, has kept the US at the front of the field.
I still believe that most treatments--as I have said before, I think generally "cure" is too strong a word--will come from adult stem cells and other areas of regenerative medicine. But be that as it may, it is now abundantly clear that all of the holding of their breath until they turned blue from "the scientists," political operatives, and biased media obsessed with the Bush policy, was just a tantrum thrown by people used to always getting their own way.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 8:07 AM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
the cogent truth that Bush's funding policies also successfully induced scientists to find ethical means of obtaining pluripotent stem cells--resulting in IPScs.
What makes you certain that IPSc would not have been discovered as a natural progression of regenerative medicine regardless?
But I guess when they find a cure for Parkinsons using pluripotent cells you'll give ol George credit for making that happen too.
I say Bushes truer motivation for anti ESCr policy was payola to the religous leaders who got him votes.
To credit Bush for scientific discovery is a huge self serving leap - the same type of logic would contend Bush is also directly responsible for the death of Terry Shiavo because he didnt issue executive order to reinsert her tube.
Dark swan misses the point.
Embryonic stem cells have to come from fresh eggs...in the US this is 20thousand a piece...so they will be harvested in poor countries, causing women to risk their health and life.
Bush, by choosing not to kill, was right. Even his argument to use embryonic based cell lines was a pragmatic compromise in not funding furthur killing.
Ironically, we don't need the eggs, but the point is that even if taking early human life to benefit the rich worked, it's still unethical on at least two points.
"I say Bushes truer motivation for anti ESCr policy was payola to the religous leaders who got him votes."
Oh? I thought being anti-ESCR (or against funding for the destruction of further embryos) made one "out of touch with the American people." You can't argue that and then turn around and say that Bush vetoed ESCR bills for "political purposes."
Sure I can. Its reality.
You may not think that Bush manipulated and appeased the religous base to get votes, I do.
I think a lot of Christians feel manipulated by Bush these days. The same as many conservatives feel manipulated by Bush, look around, its easy to see.
8 years in office has not shaken the foundations of Roe. He has taken the easy steps but abandon the difficult decisions.
I think most Americans (including myself) agreed on the Partial Birth Ban, it was an easy sell.
If I were in your shoes id be a bit disappointed that he did not accomplish more for your agenda in nearly a decade of his own self proclaimed decidership. With his litany of executive orders you'd think he would have done more than just sign a relatively harmless order that stopped funding of international groups offering abortion counciling (as appeasement to the base again on the 28th annversadry of Roe) Thats all you got!
Your point that Bush can't pander to conservatives because the majority of the country isn't conservative is ridiculous. He simply did. McCain isnt going to do anything more than Bush has and its likey going to be a democrat in office for the next 8 years.
"It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad," Mr Bush wrote in his executive memorandum.
Here is the documentation that President Bush has used tax dollars to fund selected surgical abortions, chemical abortions, and Planned Parenthood (the nation's largest chain of child-murder-by-abortion centers) throughout his presidency:
1) President Bush is funding surgical abortions via Medicaid (Title XIX) in the HHS Appropriations bills: See bills below at http://thomas.loc.gov - Check out HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on Jan. 10, 2002 - Check out HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on Jan. 23, 2004
2) President Bush is funding chemical abortions via Medicaid (Title XIX) and the Title X birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding program: See bills below at http://thomas.loc.gov - Check out HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on 1/10/2002 - Check out HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on 1/23/2004
3) President Bush is funding the nation's largest perpetrators of child-murder-by-abortion, Planned Parenthood (report murdering over 200,000 unborn children annually by surgical abortion alone), through both Medicaid (Title XIX) and Title X, with OVER $50 MILLION per year through each program: See bills below at http://thomas.loc.gov - Included in HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on 1/10/2002 - Included in HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on 1/23/2004
4) President Bush has INCREASED the Title X funding levels OVER $26,000,000 MORE THAN THE LAST CLINTON BUDGET: - The Title X funding level for FY 2001, the last Clinton-influenced budget, was a total of $254 MILLION, of which over $58 MILLION went to Planned Parenthood - In FY 2002, George W. Bush's first full budget year, the Title X birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding authorization INCREASED OVER 11,000,000, to $265 MILLION (HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush on 1/10/2002)
- In FY 2004, George W. Bush's most recently completed full budget year, the Title X birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding authorization INCREASED EVEN MORE to $280 MILLION, OVER $26,000,000 ($26 MILLION) MORE THAN BILL CLINTON'S LAST BUDGET YEAR ! (HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush on 1/23/2004)
"You may not think that Bush manipulated and appeased the religous base to get votes, I do."
Okay...then you have to admit that the majority of Americans agree with Bush on ESCR. You certainly don't pander to a minority...
Politicians pander to special interests (minority groups) all the time.
You think special interests always hold the same interest as the majority? What country you been living in?
Fact is the majority of Americans think Bushes leadership and ideas are horrible. Worst president ever, but hey you 'll keep voting for him if he appeases your minority, even if it has lead this country into war that killed 10s to 100s of thousands of innocnet people, you prolifer you!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home