[Mb-civic] Silliness On Stem Cells - George Will - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

Silliness On Stem Cells

By George F. Will
Thursday, August 4, 2005; Page A23

Scalding criticism directed by some conservatives at Sen. Bill Frist 
concerning his slightly revised position regarding federal funding of 
embryonic stem cell research is symptomatic of the casual cynicism that 
nowadays passes for political realism. Some "social conservatives" 
purporting to speak for "values voters" -- what voters do not intend 
their political choices to advance their values? -- insist, 
simultaneously, that Frist made a gross political blunder and that he 
sacrificed principles to politics. This train wreck of logic makes one's 
head hurt.

The president's firm policy -- he vows to veto House-passed legislation 
that would alter it -- is that the federal government will not fund 
research that involves the destruction of any embryo, so federal funding 
should support research only on the 78 stem cell lines that existed when 
he formulated his policy in August 2001. At that time Frist, who before 
then had proposed a moderately more permissive policy, accepted the 
president's policy.

Now, however, Frist says that only 22 stem cell lines, of uncertain and 
declining quality, remain eligible for federal funding. So he endorses 
the House legislation that would expand federal funding of research. But 
it would encompass only cells from surplus embryos that have been 
created in vitro and frozen for couples who, having completed their 
fertility enhancement, donate them for research. These embryos would 
otherwise remain frozen or be destroyed.

The legislation would not allow funding for research on cells derived 
from embryos created for the purpose of harvesting cells. Nevertheless, 
many thoughtful people fear that the House-passed legislation puts the 
nation's foot on a slippery slope leading to such a commodification of life.

<>Life, however, is lived on a slippery slope: Taxation could become 
confiscation; police could become gestapos. But the benefits from 
taxation and police make us willing to wager that our judgment can stop 
slides down dangerous slopes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/03/AR2005080302014.html?nav=hcmodule 

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