How important an issue do you think stem cell research is

[burythehatchet]

Is it in your top 3, 5, 10 issues?

Personally I think that in the realm of issues we can do something about it is the most important issue we face.

What are your thoughts on stem cell research?

[goclark]

1. Totally for it!

[Dookus]

2. It's important scientifically and medically

but more importantly, it's the social implications I worry about. The idea that a small group of religious extremists can drive such national policy decisions is very frightening.

[r_u_stuck2]

7. What Dookus said! Exactly n/t

[burythehatchet]

10. I guarantee you it will be law no matter what within 2 years at most.

The fascists are LOSING the culture war. They just don't believe it.

[Dagaz]

3. It's pretty low

Jobs, economy, health care, taxes and education are all much higher. As Greenspan just said we should look at the trade deficit pretty soon too.

[burythehatchet]

5. Do you realize nearly half of all persons 85+ has dementia

What it does to their quality of life, and their families is devestating. Its also the fastest growing population segment in the world.

[zmdem]

14. Fastest growing but

still a small percentage of the world population. AIDS, malnutrition, clean water, etc. are more important.

[Dagaz]

20. well I'm no expert

but I've read enough to know that the experts think that it is most effective with diseases that require regeneration. Alzheimers would not be helped at all by stem cells.

If you're looking at world impact then malaria and the issues you mentioned are more important. Stem cell research is really just a political football.

[NightOwwl]

4. Kerry thinks it's important too.

Quote:

"How do you tell a diabetic child that research to cure her disease can't proceed because of politics? How do you tell a brilliant young medical researcher that the only way to carry on her life's work is to move abroad? As President, I simply won't do it. I will ensure we unleash all of our technology and scientific potential to use stem cell research to develop cures. We owe our country no less."

[burythehatchet]

6. that's one position of his that I am 100% behind.

That alone gets my vote

[BiggJawn]

15. How? that's easy

How do you tell a Diabetic middle-ager he can never have a cure because a bunch of religious fruitcakes have a president riding around in their jockstrap?

"But Jawn, think of all those precious BABIES that will be saved if we don't allow this research. After all, Jesus didn't say anything about Stem Cells in the Bible...Uh, excuse me, that's my phone..."

Yeah, and Jesus had a Nokia, too, right?

[coloradodem2005]

8. I think that it is more important in the long run.

It should be something that it is researched but we also have other more pressing concerns now.

[burythehatchet]

11. drugs keep getting more expensive

thanks to the great drug bill, people keep living longer and the boomers are hitting the wave now. Money is running out for health care. The only solution is cure. Without it there will be terrible diseases and epidemics.

[NightOwwl]

13. He can overturn Bush's policy quickly.

Remember Bush banned federal aid overseas to woman's health groups if they even mentioned the word "abortion." He did that the 1st month of his residency.

[gulliver]

9. It's as important an issue as Alzheimer's, Parkinsons,

MS, and American competitiveness. It is an avenue to potential disease cures and a key weapon in the arsenal of American medical research. And it has been thrown away -- simply sacrificed to buttress Republican pro-life lip service.

It is a major issue if we make it one. And I think we are.

[burythehatchet]

12. precisely. the demographics of our aging population are VERY scary

failure to start the heavy research now will lead to immeasureable misery.

[CaTeacher]

17. I am 100% for SCR, but I do not

support federal funding for Big Biotech. Why should the federal government (our tax dollars) supplement this research?

I want the federal funds to go to support research that Big Biotech is NOT currently doing. This is the research that is not glamourous and that perhaps no one will fund if not the federal government. The way things are right now, SCR is not illegal--it is being actively pursued by many many companies. We are actually currently funding it to a much greater extent than I would ever do.

When (if) Big Biotech gets a hit--they are going to make billions off the patents that they developed using OUR $$$.

And BTW, SCR which MAY be good for some illnesses, is NOT expected to help Alzheimers. There are other methods, better methods under exploration.

We have overblown the SCR just because it is a devisive political issue. That is cool with me--I give lip service to the Democratic position just to help divide the repubs and possibly sway some dummies over to our side.

But that doesn't mean that I am a dummy--I know that my money would be better spent elsewhere.

[apsuman]

16. if it were promising private dollars would be pouring into research.

Private dollars have for the most part not found their way into stem cell research because those dollars do not think it promising (right now).

[Booster]

18. This has been kind of a peeve of mine for years.

If you think about it, there hasn't been a total cure for any disease since the 60's. It has always been my belief that if you pay someone to look for something, they will never find it. Now if you put a billion dollars in a fund and say whoever comes up with a cure for (name your disease), then they get the money, I bet a cure would be found within a year. I am, however, for stem cell research and don't want religious nuts dictating how we can look for a cure. Screw em. They would be the first in line for the cure.

[NightOwwl]

19. Bushie might have to flip-flop on this one

considering how fast his brain is degenerating.