Stem Cell Research and the US Government

[archimeech]

I just thought I'd share with you guys what my federal senator sent back to me as a responce to my questioning him on wether or not he supports stem cell research. Breaks my heart that they are willing to let frozen blastocyst embryos be discarded, but they won't give them the honor of being used to potentially help all of humanity.....

"October 20, 2004

Dear Sir:

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts in stem cell
research. It was good to hear from you, and I appreciate the
opportunity to respond.

As a proponent of medical research, I am in favor of exploring the
fullest extent to which science can be utilized to improve the health
of Americans. However, I cannot morally support the destruction
of human embryos for the harvesting of tissue.

Luckily, stem cells offering tremendous potential for medical
breakthroughs can be found not only in embryos, but in the
umbilical cord of a naturally born baby and in adult tissue. I fully
support publicly funding research using these stem cells which are
not acquired through the destruction of a human life.

President Bush announced in 2001 that the Federal government
would continue to fund only that stem cell research using stem cell
lines which existed at the time of his speech. This policy allows
continued research toward future clinical use of stem cells while
preventing public funds from contributing to the destruction of
more human embryos.

Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns. Your
input helps me to better serve you in the U.S. House of
Representatives.

Sincerely,

Max Burns
Member of Congress":(

[mg_2204]

... I've read that adult stem cells have limited potential only. How many human embryos are discarted/destroyed, I have no clue. But if they are to be destroyed, why not help another fellow human being with the stem cells collected from 1 or 2 day old embryo? Of course there is always the danger of producing embryos just to collect stem cells.

Marie
:)

[lgvincent]

In defense of his ban on funding new cell lines, it seems like George recently said something like all life is important. If that is true, why isn't the life of people who are actually alive important? By banning funding for new cell lines, we have little hope of finding cures for a multitude of ailments that affect people who are suffering now, but they don't seem to matter.

[archimeech]

the other fact is that, if you indeed believe all life is important, then why allow these pinhead size groups of cells to be discarded in the trash? If it is a life to you then do something to save it. I have read that there are anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 frozen blastocyst stage embryos in chryogenic stasis in just the US right now that are going to be kept frozen or simply discarded. The couples attempting to become pregnant had done so and had a succesful birth. at that point it is their perogative to either keep them frozen to use at a later date or to have them discarded.

I just wish people would think an issue through before making what I consider to be a 1/2 complete stand, that all life is precious.

p.s. this is also the same US government that has been watching full grown living breathing humans being killed in an attempt at genocide in the Sudan, and doing very little about it. If all life is important what about them?

[mike9876]

The bush is off his rocket and reckons he has a direct line to god and god has told him personally to fight eveil. Maybe god told him not to use embryos. That says it all, he's a nutter. The trouble for us brits is blair follows everything bush says and he's another nutter. Blairs a catholic who carries a copy of the koran with him, something he got off clinton. No wonder the world is in a mess with these 2 running the show. I am sure if one bush's children need stem cell research to help cure their disease he would change his mind very quickly with mrs bush on his case. Its all very good for these people to have morals but when they are fit and healthy they have no idea what it is like to have a incurable disease.

[HeatherP]

I'd be happy to trade Bush for Blair if you'd like, Mike! :D :p

[archimeech]

yeah, but we're just whining right? Insulin takes care of all of our problems and I just don't know what I was thinking. Oh, that's right I wasn't thinking!
I'm a good Greek Orthodox boy, but I think we have to use our heads a little more sometimes.
I heard a good quote,"if you're not a liberal in college, you have no heart but if your not a conservative afterwards, you've got no brain."
I like to think of myself as an independant realist, that's a person who is compasionate, has a big heart, but an equally large brain..... and i use both of them.

[archimeech]

No!!!! leave that limey over there! Just kidding on that one, mike.

[mike9876]

I have a better idea you can have bush and blair, it would be bad for you but great for us. You will get all the rubbish laws and a million new fix penalty notices. Blair likes to attack the sick. His new idea is to get the sick back to work to pay for the pension black hole we have here. These poor people have to pass a strict fitness test to get incapacity benefit.

[HeatherP]

That may be, but at least his IQ is higher than 60. And he can say more than 5 words at a time without screwing up. lol!

[rzrbks]

mike9876

That says it all, he's a nutter. The trouble for us brits is blair follows everything bush says and he's another nutter.

How very Traitorous of you, Mike. Trashing the Leaders of the Two Most Up-Standing countries in the world. :D
Blair and Blair-Lite

[gettingby]

Very good topic Meech. Makes ya think, don't it? Of course, what do I know. I'm just a middle class citizen of the South(LOL), but **** proud of it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[archimeech]

Yeah, but according to most politicians, with what I make I'm supposed to be, as they say in the south, living way high on the hog!"
I support a family of 4 off of my salary alone, but with the cost of things today and especially the cost of this delightful disease we can barely make ends meet.
Everyone keeps saying on TV how well off Americans are but my dollar does not go that far these days. I live in a house that is entirely too small for our needs and can't afford to move up. I at least own my home, but we are trapped in it due to the escalting home market.
Everyone needs to go back home and stop moving to the south!:)

[gettingby]

LOL. Yeah I understand ya there. We are a two income family with 1 child and sometimes it's hard to make the two ends meet. Heck, our medical ins. is $118/week!!!!!!!!! Maybe those who keep moving to the South realize it is alot prettier place to live(LOL, j/k guys. No offense meant).
Cin

[mike9876]

Here in the UK especially in London houses are silly prices, 2 up 2 down £200,000 minimum. The houses are tiny inside.

[mg_2204]

Mike, it makes me cringe to know what kind of house I could get back home for the same price... fully furnished with Italian furniture too I'm sure! ACK!

Marie
:)

[archimeech]

right now in Savannah GA the average house is selling for approximately $100 to $120 a square foot.
so a 2000 square foot or 186 square meter house sells for
$200,000 to $240,000 at todays exchange that's 158,000-190,000 Euro or 108,000-129,000 UK pound. In a really nice neighborhood, double that figure. Now that is for Savannah GA! Take that number and multiply it about 6 to 8 times for New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Cities that are more on the even keel with London. It's crazy!

[KLD]

I live in Surrey, which is considered one of the "least desirable" suburbs of Vancouver, and my 1800 square foot rancher style house (one-level, no basement) is worth about $350,000 Canadian. House prices here have just gone crazy.

Karen

[Willow]

That's right Mike, we live in a 2 bedroom cottage in Hertfordshire & when we were considering moving a little while ago our house was valued at £195,000. Ridiculous.

[HeatherP]

We live in about 800 square feet, and other houses in the neighborhood that are the same size/condition are going for around $500k. That's the bay area for you.

HeatherP

[mike9876]

I would say my house is 800 sqaure feet in a cheap part of london. Go to the exspensive area's and you are looking at £1 million so $1.8 million or put in the ultra expensive areas £2 million or $3.6 million. If you put my house about 3 miles away then it would cost around £500,000 crazy or what. I have always seen a house as a home but here its an invest to make money on, buy properties and rent them out and price everybody out of the market who needs somewhere to live.