Thread: FDA approved embryonic stem cell trials

I think the biggest issue being expressed in this thread is the idea of foriegn aid, we cant afford it until we get our own house in order.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I think the biggest issue being expressed in this thread is the idea of foriegn aid, we cant afford it until we get our own house in order.

EXACTLY! Which, if I remember correctly, was to be priority one for him.

Well, indeed that is a valid concern and it may need a separate thread. I'm not sure that's the case though. Isolationist US, while good from certain point of view is not really a winning position in my view. And if US would remain very active foreign relations the aid is by far the cheaper solution than letting the proverbial SHTF.
Plus all this foreign aid does make americans feel morally superior. I know I should shut up, probably.
In any case the new administration has shown intent to pursue soft power to a much larger extent than the last one. The history will show if that would be successful strategy, it seems to me that it may be - a balanced approach almost always works much better than the extremes.

I don't know whether US can afford foreign aid, but I think it certainly cannot afford not to. The country is in the red and if all the creditors demand their money it will be essentially bankrupt. And a lot of it's creditors will be bankrupt as well. We'll have to wait and see what happens, after all that's why we pay the politicians the big bucks.

Sticky subject indeed. About the foreign abortion aid– I agree with Gugi that it's a good idea to lift the BAN on US aided foreign abortion, but I agree with others that The US should not even be involved in foreign abortion issues. Why they are kind of boggles my mind and I really don't care to know any more about that whole situation. Ignorance is bliss.

As for stem cell research– I hope more than anything that something good comes of it. I too will be waiting intently.

My original post was not sarcastic. If you'll reference the last sentence as well as the smiley, I am waiting in fascination. In which case, apology accepted

Perhaps cure was too strong of a word, but I like modest gains too. I have slight spinal injury from surgery which really isn't bad, but it could be better. I'll take a modest gain, and I think those that might benefit from it will take a modest gain as well. Cure? No. A hell of a lot better than nothing? Absolutely.

As for foreign aid, I think it's a fallacy to call it an all or nothing deal. I believe any country has the right to give aid to some causes/countries and not others. If I want to give my change to the beggar on 23rd and Penn but not to the one of 10th and Penn, then that's my prerogative. I support breast cancer research but not AIDS research. Would it be better for me to just cut everyone off?

You make it sound like feeling morally superior is a bad thing. Don't you feel good about yourself when you help someone out? I know I do. I'm such a bastard, I know (and yes, that last bit was sarcasm)

Originally Posted by freebird

I for one would rather my tax wouldn't go to kill babies in other countries.

I agree on this point. As for the expenditure of our tax dollars go, think how many Medicaid dollars we will save if FOCA passes, when thousands of Catholic hospitals will close when told they must perform abortions. Yes, the sarcasm intended.

No, I don't think feeling morally superior is a bad thing - for one helps to make for a coherent patriotic nation. It's a good thing, all of us try to be good and not bad. But of course at the level these decisions are made I don't think this is all that important of a factor.

I think the abortion issue is presented in a very politically colored light. I don't know how many read the article on foxnews but it makes it fairly clear what this is.
This is not about the business of abortions, but about whether the availability of an abortion as a tool should automatically disqualify from government funding.
Whether we like it or not, abortions have always existed and will continue to be performed everywhere in the world, and people choose them for their own reasons.
The ban just seems like something put into place for purely ideological reasons. I think that the decisions what gets funded and what doesn't should be made based on merit, not ideology.
I really find completely unfounded the implied suggestion that the existence of such ban is the only thing preventing some southpark like scenario of free US funded abortions for the world's population.

And finally without any numbers, discussion like this is really just a lot of wind on our part as the only arguments can be based on a 'principle' and thus likely very irrelevant for all practical purposes.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

We'll soon find out if it is indeed the cure all that many hope it will be. I know I'll be waiting in fascination

You guys'll have some catching up to do, us lot over the pond have been prodding around with stem cells some time now.

Or maybe you mean now that you guys are on it, you'll solve the problem pretty quick?

I don't want to get embroiled in a political thread, but I'll set the facts straight. Obama did not OK US funding of abortions. The ban, which was removed, was on providing ANY funding for any international organization that provided abortions. Let's say, for example, that there was an organization in Thailand, or some such, dedicated to the rescue of women involved in the sex industry involuntarily (we could probably all agree that this is a good thing). A noble endeavor, but if the organization should choose to provide abortions, even under accounting practices that clearly demonstrate that none of the funding for abortions came from the US government, that organization would still be ineligible for US funds during the ban. It was, is, and shall remain illegal (I think since 1973 (***update, actually 1961)) for international organizations to provide abortions using US government funds.

Originally Posted by majurey

You guys'll have some catching up to do, us lot over the pond have been prodding around with stem cells some time now.

Or maybe you mean now that you guys are on it, you'll solve the problem pretty quick?

Of course we'll solve it faster. We're Americans, duh