Stem Cell...

What are your thoughts...... 

do you think it should be allowed?

should embryonic stem cell  be allowed, if not why not?

littleinfoonstemcell  

unbelievable that still not one person has said they disagree! yawn yawn.

I don't think it's that surprising.

Here is how the argument would go.

Anti-Stem Cell Research Person:  I believe stem cell research is immoral and therefore should be banned from receiving any tax money.

Pro-Stem Cell Research Person:  Your beliefs apply to you and your choices; they do not determine national policy for all people, including those who don't agree with your beliefs.

There is nothing left to say when one side only has their beliefs on which to argue a point and the other side rejects those beliefs.

But I do welcome all people who believe that stem cell research is immoral to campaign against in vitro fertilization.  If you can put a stop to that, you'll stop the availability of embryos on which to experiment.  The problem is, you can't have it both ways. 

that would be an interesting debate (bottom paragraph).

Original Post by coffincritter:

As far as "bravery" goes, although I've disagreed with peaches before, I think it's kind of cool that she posted what she did here, and not just because it's the same as what I think. It's kind of like when I said I agreed with the right to carry a gun even though I largely identify as liberal and they don't agree with that. To me it's more important to form your own views on things as an individual, rather than just go "well I'm liberal/conservative therefore I must think A B and C because the rest of them do."

 Thanks, Coffin  :D

I find as I get older and move out of my early/mid 20's, I DO start to question more things that I was raised to believe.  This is one issue where I do find myself swaying more towards the liberal side.

Oh, and I do remember that gun thread.  That one was a doozie!

Watched 'Right Amercia' on HBO. Those people make the conservatives on this thread look like downright centrists!

Love out to all our conservative posters - you may be leaning toward republican values sometimes, but at least you aren't flat out, balls-to-the-wall coconut crazy!

Original Post by monarch777:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

the only reason i can think of to be afraid to speak your mind is that you don't know what you're talking about.  it that's the case, then--yeah--call it bravery. or whatever.

 Gee..what could you point out specifically and logically, without crude and disparaging remarks....that I "do not know what I am talking about" in this thread? Opinions are not fact...they are opinions, and like sphincters...everyone has one.

I also find it very egocentric that you thought I was even thinking about you in the "pack of hungry dogs" comment.  That's funny.

no, the fact that you assume i was talking about you (or your bravery) shows how egocentric you are.  i wasn't talking about you; i was talking about the concept of showing bravery in an internet forum.

as to your second point, you misunderstood (again).  i was just saying that we disagree on a regular basis, and i don't think that either of us is particularly brave or a hungry dog.

Original Post by kathygator:

Watched 'Right Amercia' on HBO. Those people make the conservatives on this thread look like downright centrists!

Love out to all our conservative posters - you may be leaning toward republican values sometimes, but at least you aren't flat out, balls-to-the-wall coconut crazy!

 Gee, thanks Kathy.....er...I think?

oh that's definitely a compliment, peaches.  just take it.

Original Post by peaches0405:

Original Post by kathygator:

Watched 'Right Amercia' on HBO. Those people make the conservatives on this thread look like downright centrists!

Love out to all our conservative posters - you may be leaning toward republican values sometimes, but at least you aren't flat out, balls-to-the-wall coconut crazy!

 Gee, thanks Kathy.....er...I think?

 Sorry Peaches - didn't mean to sound condescending - the show threw me for a big loop. There was enough hate and vitriole to make me question if the Republican leadership understand how far afield the 'base' has drifted.

Original Post by monarch777:

Well, perhaps the people who value their genetic material will keep procreating, and the people who think that their embryos are a primordial sludge will let science dissect it and use it...

I'm not sure which concept is more amusing - that people who procreate do so because they "value their genetic material" more, or that people who don't procreate and support stem cell research equate embryos with "primordial sludge."

And the theory of what happens if one particular segment of society outbreeds others and the result has indeed been explored in serious and contemplative productions like "Idiocracy".

A lot has been talked about already in this thread. Where to start?:

1. I've been on the receiving end of the majority view before when I said that I believe that the bible should be read literally in some passages and not in others (Here). Most people aren't comfortable with that type of a challenge. I could understand why people who disagree with stem cell research wouldn't really want to speak up when there are several pages of posts from people who believe that this research should be done. Perhaps it is misunderstood that a solitary post disagreeing with the majority is meant to be a challenge. I'm sure that many times it is just what they think.

2. The crux of this issue is when a person believes that human life begins and when we should associate all of the rights of a human to that life. Without defining these parameters or at least picking a point at which you believe is most logical (or safest in many cases), you can't really take a stance on the issue.

3. I'm not sure if I would describe Idiocracy as "serious and contemplative," but I think I get your point.

Original Post by simwaves1:

3. I'm not sure if I would describe Idiocracy as "serious and contemplative," but I think I get your point.

Acknowledged - cross "Idiocracy" off the "universally recognized serious and contemplative examples of cinema" list.  But I'm going to have to insist on keeping "Caddyshack" and "Airplane!" on there.

surely you're not serious.

You can just call me santo.

But a donut without a hole is a danish.

Original Post by kathygator:

Original Post by peaches0405:

Original Post by kathygator:

Watched 'Right Amercia' on HBO. Those people make the conservatives on this thread look like downright centrists!

Love out to all our conservative posters - you may be leaning toward republican values sometimes, but at least you aren't flat out, balls-to-the-wall coconut crazy!

 Gee, thanks Kathy.....er...I think?

 Sorry Peaches - didn't mean to sound condescending - the show threw me for a big loop. There was enough hate and vitriole to make me question if the Republican leadership understand how far afield the 'base' has drifted.

 Hehe.  I know.  I didn't think it was condescending.  I apreciate that most people acknowledge that just because some of us tend to sway a tad more republican, that we are not all of us nutjobs  :D

Original Post by pgeorgian:

surely you're not serious.

 I am serious. And dont call me Shirley.

thanks, azirra ;)

Here's the deal;

If success was garanteed on this issue, these corporations would not be afraid to invest private money.

Because success is not assured, they are only willing to perform this research with handouts from the federal govt. 

Here's the deal:

If success was garanteed on this issue, these corporations would not be afraid to invest private money.

Because success is not assured, they are only willing to perform this research with handouts from the federal govt. 

Corporations fund research that will yield a profit in less than 5 years.  Long term (or early) scientific research is funded by those who don't care about making a profit, but who are interested in helping people or advancing society - namely, universities, the government and certain charitable foundations associated with the search for a particular disease cure.

Americans are already going to China for stem cell treatments and achieving some improvement in their condition in some cases.

Original Post by jeffmidguard:

Here's the deal;

If success was garanteed on this issue, these corporations would not be afraid to invest private money.

Because success is not assured, they are only willing to perform this research with handouts from the federal govt. 

success is never guaranteed, jeff.  if it were, we wouldn't need research. and as nomo points out, private corporations invest in profits.  the more effective a treatment is, the less profit it offers. cures - forget it. there's no money in that.