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Subject: 
Re: I think I'm going to puke....
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Fri, 24 Jun 2005 20:46:00 GMT
Viewed: 
1389 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
   In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
   In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
   In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:

   Mainly the Right is against government funding for such research. Same with abortion. But yes, there is a moral component to it as well.

This may be an unintentional misstatement of the facts. My impression is that an all-out ban on stem-cell research would receive massive support from the Right, but the Right realizes that it’s a game of inches. First, ban government funding of stem-cell research. Second (hypothetically, but you get the point), ban stem-cell research by entities not licensed by the government. Third (again, hypothetically) ban stem-cell research outright.

The Right may claim that it is a moral issue, but in fact it is a case of the Right trying to require that everyone be forced to share the Right’s carefully calculated articulation of its moral values.

   The Right’s objection to stem cell research revolves around the use of fetal stem cells. It is their fear that unborn fetuses will become stem cell gardens for research. I know of no objections to the usage of other types of stem cells such as the ones found in the imbilical cord. So, one must specify which type of stem cell one is talking about WRT to this whole debate.

Sorry for the ambiguity--it wasn’t an attept to trap you.

I was referring to fetal stem cells, which scientific consensus identifies as likely the most fruitful source of therapeutic treatments.

As you have noted elsewhere, this consensus most certainly doesn’t exist and scientific progress can most likely procede without the use of fetal stem cells.

   The silliness of the Right’s objection is immediately apparent, IMO. Dubya, whom we may identify as an exemplary caricature of Right-wing silliness, decries the creation of life solely to destroy life. But he absolutely must condemn in vitro fertilization, too, because numerous embryos are created solely in the hope that one might live; life is created and destroyed so that one life may be produced.

This is actually a good point. I know that numerous eggs are used purely for utilitarian reasons. But maybe this shouldn’t be the case, and science needs to work on perfecting the in vitro fertilization process that respects life more.

   If fetal stem cell research is allowed to flourish, the termination of one blastocyst may save hundreds of thousands of lives. How can this not be seen as a worthy course?

It is because they are taken from aborted fetuses.

   Also, the whole claptrap about “Snowflake Adoptions” is patently offensive, when Dubya has worked so hard to kill so many Iraqi children,

That assertion is what is patently offensive...

   not to mention the countless post-birth American children he has neglected and abandoned with his policies.

And to mention the countless post-birth American children he has helped with his policies.

   A clear examination of the Right’s rhetoric demonstrates that, regardless of the morality of those who vote Republican, the actual leadership has no more interest in the fate of blastocysts than is needed to ensure that the unthinking flock will pull the Red lever on election day.

All politicians are interested in flocks, unthinking or not...

JOHN



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: I think I'm going to puke....
 
(...) All politicians are most interested in the unthinking flock. Both sides have a flock like this that will beleive and regurgitate what ever they are told, expecially when it is what they want to hear. Niether party is any better than the other (...) (19 years ago, 24-Jun-05, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: I think I'm going to puke....
 
(...) Since I've already ceded that point, I think we can move on. Also, I don't know what I was smoking that led me to fail to distinguish between fetal and embryonic, which really is central in this context. My apologies. (...) We need to define (...) (19 years ago, 27-Jun-05, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: I think I'm going to puke....
 
(...) Sorry for the ambiguity--it wasn't an attept to trap you. I was referring to fetal stem cells, which scientific consensus identifies as likely the most fruitful source of therapeutic treatments. The silliness of the Right's objection is (...) (19 years ago, 22-Jun-05, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

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