Posted by
Gregory L. Vince on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 9:51:53 PM
Today, President Bush vetoed his first bill ever. It was a bill that Congress sent to his desk that called for federal funding of stem cell research. There is a plausible argument one can make about taxpayer dollars funding stem cell research. One can say it is more reckless spending. Another can say it's more big government getting involved with something that could be handled by the private sector better. Both those arguments are conservative and libertarian arguments against this bill.
As for my thoughts on stem cell research, I feel it is something that can benefit society. In the name of economics, science, and health such research could help millions of people. Aborted embryos are simply discarded as is. Last time I checked, abortion is still legal. Why not make the best of a tragic situation, and put it to good use. Why turn back the clock on scientific progress? I somehow doubt that we will see herds of pregnant women running to the nearest abortion clinic in the name of stem cell research, especially if it is proven to be not as effective as some thought.
As for how our government dollars are spent, I can think of worse ways to spend them. Bridges to nowhere and other pork filled highway and energy bills have fiscal hawks foaming at the mouth, yet Mr. Bush has had no problems signing both into law. I tend to feel that the private sector could very well benefit from stem cell research. A clear majority of people in this country support such research. The people, should be heard and listened to.
There is a debate to be had on this research and it seems to be something that is uniting factions of conservatives and liberals. Mr. Bush has stalled that debate today. I think he has slapped conservatives in the face many times, and this was not a veto to support them, it was a veto to support the religious right. The facts have mounted up that Bush is not a conservative and there is nothing that he can do to prove otherwise to me now.