The Second Coming of Gilligan

[matthewstryker]

At what point does someone cross the line and officially become a complete asshole?  Is it when he denies a child an ice cream cone?  Or when he drives incredibly slowly in the left lane?  When does his gain his stars and ascend to that greater rank of douchebag?  Where is the line

Comments

Wow

[anonymous]

You're joking, right? You're saying we have cancer and other diseases because more federal funds aren't going to embryonic stem-cell research on top of what's already been provided? You're going to hold President Bush accountable because you believe in some fantasy claim that unless federal money goes into something there's nothing that can be done? If it's so true that killing human embryos is nature's secret to solving all of life's problems (even though so far we've seen more accomplished using adult stem cells) then why aren't private firms cashing in on a sure bet instead of pouring billions into other philanthropies?

President Bush did not halt research as you implied, but instead prevented more federal money from going into it. It is estimated that in the next ten years private firms will have invested more than a billion dollars into such research. Until they discover something greater than hypothetical claims I find it hard to believe that it's the U.S. government that's holding back on something still very unproven.

Re: Wow

[matthewstryker]

You'll never get it.

not to worry

[firebad]

Actually almost all scientific research in this country relies to a great degree on government funding. Regardlesss of this, private funds HAVE donated substantial money to research on embryonic stem cells. I believe programs at Harvard and UC-San Francisco are leading the way at the moment.

It is silly to pretend that you can find the best cures while ignoring a whole line of possibilities. It is even more silly to pretend that Bush's actions will stop the research from continuing in this constantly globalizing world. Plenty of other governments, including China and South Korea are more than eager to fill the space left open by a hampered US research initiative.

The only real lasting effect of the veto will be the lowered prestige of the American research community.