Scrappy Conservatives

Missouri is currently having a "heated" debate over a constitutional amendment that address Stem Cell research in the State. I think it is a completely stupid debate. Not because I think it is bad to debate stem cell research but because the public debate being played out in opposing television adds and talk radio shows, is so far away from the actual content of the amendment that is completely unhelpful. The amendment, if passed would tie Missouri's laws on stem cell research to the Federal Laws. All that it really would do is prevent the Missouri Legislature from make laws that would restrict scientists living and researching in the state Missouri from accessing whatever federal dollars are available for stem cell research. If the Federal Government decides to ban embryonic stem research then it would also be banned here in Missouri. If the Federal government decides to lift all restrictions on stem cell research and pour billions of dollars in to research, then Missouri scientists could apply for research money from the Feds. That is it. All this talk of human cloning, or poor women selling their eggs, or the right to life, or the right to choose, are irrelevant points and are simply attempts by the far right and the far left to turn this issue into something that it is not. The only controversial component of this amendment is "State Rights" and signing over our rights as Missourians to make our own laws to the Federal Government. Please Please Please don't listen to these stupid commercial with Kurt Warner or Michael J. Fox...read the amendment and you'll see that the only choice you have to make is whether you want Missouri to maintain our ability to make our laws on this issue in future or if you trust the Federal Government to do it for us.

I voted Yes on Amendment 2 and here is why. The Biomedical industry is an important component of Missouri's economy. Biomedical research is huge here in Columbia as well as at University of Missouri-St. Louis, Washington University, and University of St. Louis. Tying scientists’ access to stem cell research funds to federal laws keeps Missouri's biomedical research industry competitive with all other states and cities. If Missouri limits access to funds our university system and our economy will suffer greatly. Being that I am a PhD student in the Biological Sciences in the State of Missouri, I think it is extremely important to keep our biology and medical research programs highly competitive with the rest of the country and the world
 

Thanks for your comment, the bird man. If what you say is true, the amendment is so poorly written and expressed that it deserves to fail. This is what I say about the crazier and crazier language used to dupe people into approving the tax levies on the ballot. Newspaper articles are supposed to be written so a literate person with a fourth grade reading level can understand what they're saying. Why not these ballot measures?

The embryonic stem cell debate has been corrupted by the left since day one. As you know, adult stem cells have shown more promise than embryonic, yet this is never reported by the MSM. This is all about gov't money, IMO; if there was really promise in embryonic stem cell research, private sector financing would be plentiful.