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We aren't sitting and waiting. California is currently funding stem cell research.
Are you sure that Bush said research on previously destroyed cells was ethical? From his position, or more readily accessable, the position of his vocal base, that wouldn't be ethical although it would be permissable. That is, they aren't responsible even though they don't agree that embroyos should be destroyed for research.
There are private research centers and there are government projects other than the feds, well at least one now being California's. Even still, private interests are tied to the bids even though the regents will decide who gets what funding.
Meaning, even though California taxpayers are paying a few million for the research, we won't receive any direct benefit for our investment.
I agree with funding research. But I think that rationally speaking, publicly funded research should not enrich private interests. The only thing that is different on the federal level is that publicly funded ventures are filed with the Library of Congress. Any person can go and look up the research that has been publicly funded.
I think some people who are interested in intellectual property rights might find some really interesting dissertation material in this realm since the looming legal battles are over IP rights and this will become even more interesting, in my opinion, as we continue to see publicly funded research being melded with private enterprise. (public funds research, private holds patents)
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"The theory of a free press is that truth will emerge from free discussion, not that it will be presented perfectly and instantly in any one account." -- Walter Lippmann
"You measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists." -- Abbie Hoffman
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