Since abortion IS legal in this country, why can't embryonic stem cell donations for research be treated like any other organ donation or blood donation? As long as the donor is of legal age, banking stem cells for general research availability could be viewed as a national scientific asset.

And what about the suffering and lost lives of those who might be cured with stem cells? Let's face it, the world is already over-populated. We can't always base research criteria on the ancient social/religious values formulated when populations were small and mere survival was risky because there was no refrigeration, antibiotics or basic public sanitation. The problems we face as a society now are different than they were 2000 yrs ago and we have to search for new solutions. Isn't the quality of life more important than overwhelming masses of unhealthy and uneducated individuals in a population? If we want to retain our status as a first world nation, we can't do it with outdated third world value systems.

So far comments mostly seem verbally vindictive against Conservative thinking. A political approach tends to foster such fanaticism. Life is precious and we must protect the sanctity of life or the human race will become like animals whose instinct is to kill the innocent for personal appetite or gratification. Stem cell research will promote this animal instinct and there is no telling where it will end and no guarantee it will bring the conquest of debilitating and fatal disease.

Bible Thumping indeed, you don't have to be a BIble Thumper as you put it to know Killing a baby is wrong,and a fetus is a baby, the arguement, is about forming a life and then killing it, aboration is a poor excuse for birth control, if you can't stand the time, don't do the crime, just simply wrong . But the forming of life in a lab and then killing that life is, playing with Fire, for those that do i Hope you get forgivness before you die, why would i at 66 want some one to take a life that is just begining, to give me 5 or 6 more

The main problem with all of the people who are against stem cell research is that they have this idea due to conservative propaganda that it destroys lives to save other lives. This is a fallacy. From various panel discussions and conventions that I have attended with real scientific experts, not politicians and religious know nothings, the life that is being referred to is simply the blastula. This is merely a ball of cells that some day scientists may have the ability to control to do certain things. Normally this continues in development and forms the embryo. Even at the stage of embryo we are not talking about developed neural systems. We are talking about something that does not even resemble a "person" yet. It can not survive on its own. It has no thoughts or a personality. There can be no true life if it is not self sustaining. It is still a part of another life. I get the impression that those against stem cell research envision fetuses being sliced up and thrown away. This is not what we are talking about people. Don't just listen to your priest or politician and do your own research into the process. If you think potential for life is life then I would have to say you are naive at best. If you think this is something to be left to God then why don't we all just lie down in the street and leave the rest up to him/her/it/them. We are talking about biological matter that yes could in the right conditions become a fetus. Where do you draw the line? Everyday when you, hopefully, brush your teeth you are spitting out DNA in the sink. Now true this lacks the ability to become life, but again where is the line? Is sperm, because it has the potential to be life, life? Surely not. For every one that makes it to the egg we kill millions. Every time a man ejaculates he kills millions; millions of cells that have the “potential” for life. Of course you would say they are not a complete set of chromosomes. They are the same as what is done in stem cell research though folks. Because there a single egg is taken and the DNA drawn out of the nucleus and then replaced with another person’s not people’s DNA. It is basically a clone. It never develops to the point that most people seem to think. This is not the Matrix nor X-Files and they are not growing “people” in jars. Live in the real world folks, which is what we know, not religious fantasy land. I am not saying disregard your faith, but do not let your religion override your intelligence. Think about things using the facts. Facts are what we know and can prove not what we feel or someone told us. If you took the time to read this then you have plenty of time to do your own research. By the way, the 700 Club is not a valid source nor is the royal Bush family. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge and from what I can tell this country is suffering from an epidemic of it.

Since when are our life's held so preciously in the hands of our present day government that they deem it necessary to control the future existence of mankind.

To delay breakthroughs in science and not allowing scientist to implement their breakthroughs, is conveying the message that our government is afraid to step up to bat for the future of mankind.

Our country was founded upon brave leaders who were not afraid to make decisions. They had a vision for the future. Where are our brave visionary leaders of today?

I had a child that underwent a bone marrow transplant, using her own marrow that had been "cleaned up' and free of cancer. Only to find out a year later the cancer was back.
The next treatment after harsher chemo treatments was a stem cell transplant.
Thank GOD she was a perfect 10 out of 10 match to her twin brothers. Luckily after a stem cell transplant from one of them we found out the "new" cells were alive and doing well. Sort of...the new cells were overtaken within a year and she died. The only good news from the autopsy report was that a transplant COULD potentially save lives. However more time, money and testing is needed in stem cell research. Her cancer,aveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, is the worst for a child to endure and she paid the price with the loss of her life.She kept pushing the medical field to do more and more and more stem cell research so the survival rate of this type of cancer would climb beyond 1% and more lives could be saved. No federal money strictly goes to rhabdo research that I know of.
What's so bad about transplants when it can save lives as long as a life is NOT sacrificed? Think of all the illness, not just cancers, that may be cured in the future.

It was too easy to pass a law and say a fetus is not human when obviously it is. Its been done before. Blacks were enslaved, Jews were exterminated based on laws that said they were less then human. And now we have the battle over stem cell research. I am not surprised that those that can kill a baby now want to consume its parts. Sad world we are in. History will judge us as the barbarians we are.

Whose morality will be used to decide the moral issues? What if my morality does not agree with yours? Who blows-up whom first? We are all homosapiens and must stop fighting the Crusades.There is a reason we have separation of Church/Mosque/Temple and State. If we have a theocracy call it that and hope it is not spelled Taliban.If one is not healthy we tend not to pay attention to much else.

Why are people choosing to overlook what one person posted here and what has been said often in the past - that adult stem cells are proving to be effective in curing some of these diseases? Let's work with these adult cells and pour our money into that research. I couldn't imagine what those with incurable diseases - especially children and their parents suffer and I thank God I'm not in their position. We need to pray for the sick and help them. We need to research what has proven to work - the adult stem cells and other non-life-taking remedies - for their sake! Especially before we spend money on sending another piece of metal into space!

As for what one poster said...If these embryos are "biolgical waste", then WE too are "biological waste"! (As the old saying goes...good thing our mothers didn't think of us that way or we wouldn't be here!)

As for another's post that says America should "get rid of the radicals", and "get rid of people who don't care" - what exactly do they mean by that? This is exactly what Hitler's and the pro-choice (anti-life/anti-embryo) mentality is all about! - "Getting rid of people" just because you don't like them or don't think they are of use or value to society. Hitler was very effective in "getting rid of people" - and so is the anti-life/anti-embryo movement!

25,000,000+ lives ended and still going strong!

Maybe one or more of THOSE lives were supposed to have been the one(s) that were to have found the cures for these diseases for us!

If you note where the money is, it's not in Embryonic research, they have no success and no prospects. The money is in Adult stem cell research, trouble is, schools don't teach comprehension so all of the Dumb people out there just believe the loudest proponents instead of facts, we would be better off by educating people so that they were not just ignorant buffoons. It is so sad to read these illiterate blogs, not just on this subject but on all of the critical issues, no wonder this country is going to the dogs, Los Estados del Norte Mexico is coming next, Viva the browning of America and the dumbing down momentum from left wing teachers (the illiterate do not vote logically)
READ THE FACTS!

false statements made here
there was a news article on tv of a successful treatment of diabetes over a two year period with stem cells that was a success

Perhaps the government should fund those willing to collect and donate cordblood stem cells. This procedure is very expensiveand many opportunities are wasted as this valuable blood is just thrown away after delivery. Were this available at no or reasonable cost to the mother we wouldnt need to collect from unborn or aborted fetuses at all. It would come from full term delivered baby that would other wise go to waste.

For all the people who feel that it is against God to use Embryonic Stem Cells for research, go to your bible and read OT Leviticus 17.11 and 17.14--The life of every living is in the blood. Since Embryonic Stem Cells don't have any blood in them, they are not a living thing. Blood comes into the picture at a later state of development.

This is for Mike from Newark, OH:

Religion - Ancient superstitious crap???? Do you realize that the greatest scientific mind of the 20th century believed that for the existence of our universe, there must have been some "higher being" responsible. Yeah, his name was Albert Einstein. You should read a little about him sometime. I'm no "bible thumping southerner", but I do believe in God. And your comparing "bible thumpers" to the Taliban is idiotic. When was the last time that you heard of a group of "bible thumpers" endorsing the killing of innocent men, women, and children just for having a different belief system????

God helps those who help themselves, he gave us the ability to choose and become educated. He gave us the ability to learn, to grow, to teach the next generation. Our country is based on seperation of church and state. Or is it? We have so obliterated the constitution that I am no longer sure. Education has always been frightening to the conservative religious factions. This debate is a matter of education and not religion. Both sides should consider the others point of view before making an "educated" decission.

So far in the history of this blog thread we've heard from several points of view including the socially conservative and liberal, the godly and ungodly, those experiencing the loss of a friend or relative, those hoping for some source of a cure for illness or disease, even someone concerned about others lack of grammer. What's missing is a close examination of the topic of research into the effectiveness of stem cells, whether embryonic or adult. Research is exactly that, a (hopefully) scientifically based study. To study something means using multiple methods combined with close observation (again hopefully unbiased by preconceived opinions)of the interactions and results. From the conversation so far, I have difficulty believing such is occurring in this field of study.
As to the issue of embronic stem cell research, from a personal standpoint, and as someone some would call a person of "faith," I believe in the "biblical" injunction against murder. Thus, I could not conscienciously support the intentional destruction of one human life to medically save or benefit another. However, in the case of an embryo that was spontaneously aborted due to some unintentional circumstance, then I don't see any ethical reason that the stem cells from such a "victum" could not be harvested for use in stem cell research with the intention of finding a cure or relief for disease or disability.
This is the kind of reasoned, ethical discussion I see is so seriously lacking in this matter. It's mostly based upon emotion, lack of sufficient background knowledge, or both. We, as one of the most advanced civilizations on this planet, should be able to have such a conversation. But, sad to say, a lot of what is transpiring here is "knuckle draging" emotionalism. Not to say that emotion doesn't have a place in our psyche. But, it should be controlled and only used to elicit resolve to find commonality of understanding.

If you want to see stem cell research pursued, find a way to get the research done without the huge influx of cash... government or private funds. With the amount of money that it would take to make any meaningful progress in the treatment of any affliction through stem cell research, given the production cost-to-acquisition ratio of modern drugs, not many could afford the treatment. Then would come the outcry for government intervention for that....

I am tired of the people (like Mike,Ohio) and others who blame the debate only on religion. It is also a scientific issue as far as TYPES of stem cells. The places public funds should go to are the areas that are already getting results, instead of wasting energy on the "religous-government debate". Let the private funds fuel embryonic research. Let our tax dollars fund what is already helping people. Many cures, including a woman with a spinal cord injury that testified before congress, are already getting results from ADULT stem cells taken from their own bodies. I have read of a child with cerebral palsey that had sucsess with CORD BLOOD stem cells in an IV. There's also a man that has improved his life-threatening heart condition with ADULT stem cell injections into his heart. Diabetes has been cured in lab mice WITHOUT the embyonic type stem cells. Let's get these procedures going full swing in the U.S. Let's get public umbilical cord blood banking going. Everyone can support these types of research. I am tired of hearing people saying Bush and others are "against stem cell research"- they are only against the type that kills a living embryo. Is there anyone here that didn't start their life off as a embryo??? What if they had picked YOUR embryo to "use" for "research"???

First 2 issues at hand. 1st being abortion. 2nd being stem cell research - where the cells come from and the ethical uses of it.

Abortion. Yes - many people agree its a sticky area of moral debates. Is there a right or wrong on this? For those that support the pro - life cause - I would ask this - would you give EVERYTHING you have in support of the ideal? Are you willing to find the mother, support the mother as she goes through the pregnancy, pay the bills, take the time time to find new parents, deal with parents that then change their minds later on in life. Are you the one willing to actually SUPPORT the cause rather then just make a big noise over it? If you aren't willing to do this for something that is claimed to be an ABSOLUTE ethical point, then why is the cause wanting me to listen to their hollow words? And in turn for the the pro-choice cause. How hard is it for people to actually ACCEPT responsibility for their actions? If you get pregnant be it from a "casual one night stand" or unplanned pregancy from a marriage - why can we not be so selfish (what are you really trying to avoid? The social stignma in being pregnant? The inability to go around and have casual sex? Work complicatiobns?) and be willing to go through the pregnancy (barring any complications) and give another couple the actual chance to have a child they are longing for?

Secondly, the actual stem research is...just as it says ... research. It takes time, resources, sacrifices and willingness to follow through. As with any research, it holds many promises (of which some will never be attainable) If society and politics are really going to balk from furthering this research simply on the basis of some "fear", how can we as a nation of people, a world - ever collectively say we've progressed? Fear is something we will have to deal with EVERY day of our existence. And if fear is allowed to hold such a promising area of research at a standhold, then I would be truly baffled. Were business people so fearful that they didnt invest their money in new markets? Are people so afraid to try new relationships because they just dont know the other person? I hope not. Just as these are examples of PROCESSES that take time, so stem cell research must be given. Time and resources - only then can we TRULY see what it can do. Who knows. Stem cell research may even be able to help the someday?

The argument isn't about whether embryonic stem cell research should be allowed, it's about whether the federal government should fund the research. People act like there are cures to diseases waiting for embryonic stem cell research to be federally funded. Keep in mind that cancer research has been going on for over 50 years with no cures identified. What makes anyone think using federal funds for stem cell research will provide instant cures. That's rediculous. This isn't about the research, it's just the new way to say "Pro-Choice" or "Pro-life". The pro-choice crowd likes using embryos for stem cell research, the pro-life crowd says no to stem cell research. Only an idiot would believe there are cures waiting at the end of the debate.

First of all, lets get the terminology correct. There is a huge difference between embryonic stem cells and adult, umbilical cord stem cells. The former kills a human being before it can be used. The latter takes stem cells right from the person who needs it. There have been NO results from embryonic but adult stem cells have already cured and/or alleviatd pain for certain heart conditions, some MS, ACL and other illnesses. Why don't we hear about these? Simple. The media, scientists who would make millions and maybe even win the Nobel Prize. They don't want you to know. One very important point: It is NEVER morally licit to take the life of one person to save the life of another.

Stem Cell research does not CAUSE abortions. It will piggyback on what is already being done and is LEGAL. This is still a country of choice. One persons decision, whether you like it or not, may end a fetus's life but give many others their life back. Why let "biological waste" be just that, a waste?

Noble principles or life. Life at what principle? It seems that those who have no hope of life apart from here on earth are want today to overlook the principle of nurturing life in order to extend theirs. It use to be that men would give up their spot on a life boat to those weaker so they could have a chance at life which is called noble but now we find ourselves climbing over those weaker ones to the highest part of the ship only to find that we are still without remedy. Nobility is founded on the thought that there are more important things than your individual life here. If we fight for life over noble principles then I think we will be suprised in the end what quality of life we end up with.

Who are we to create a new life full of promise and hope, only to destroy it in order to prolong the death of someone who's life is nearly over? Maybe the person we destroy could have had a greater impact on the world than the person we are trying to save. God gives life and he also takes it from us when he sees fit, not visa versa.

I have read all the posts and what amazes me the most is how uneducated we as Americans are. "Stimcell", "manufactoring", "wihtout" what kinds of words are these. Maybe if we educated ourselves a little more, we could write more coherent opinions that would convince people.
Also, if you are trying to convince people that they are too conservative or too far one way, don't position yourself on the opposite end of the spectrum. It makes you just as guilty as they are! Saying you side with the Taliban will get you nowhere.
I couldn't imagine being a politician and receiving letters like these. What needs to happen is the middle group of Americans needs to form a cohesive opinion on the issue. So far, only radical opinions are being expressed; they are easily dismissed because of the fact that they are radical.
That is what I mean by the middle segment. Get rid of the radicals and people who truly don't care. THEN, you have the group of people who are a little more rational and can actually influence a change.
I'm sorry that most of my post is not about stem cell research. Personally, I believe that we have a choice. We have chosen to live in this capitalistic society. Being so, we must accept the fact that if someone can profit from something, they will. Isn't that why so many people come to America, including our ancestors?
Money talks. If you think it's a good thing, throw some money at it. If you don't, then don't.