Stem Cells, Conservatives, and Why I am Optimistic About the Future of the Human Race

I haven’t always followed the stem-cell research argument closely because the science is way over my head.  I know that scientists and progressives tend to be for it, religious nut cases and conservative Republicans tend to be against it, so it isn’t really difficult for me to pick a side. 

Anyway, here is an article about what’s happening in stem cell research recently, for those  of you who understand phrases such as ‘induced pluripotent stem cells’ and ‘age related macular degeneration’, and can use them at cocktail parties without any self-consciousness.

Myself, I just noticed the part where they talked about potential treatments for cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers.  Also some children’s disease with a long name that was probably referenced once on Dr. House, and it could help old people who are going blind.  It’s promising stuff.  Miraculous stuff.

It could wind up helping Ann Romney.  It could have helped Ronald Reagan.  Still, conservative Republicans and the religious right have been fighting against this research tooth and nail, for decades.  That’s pretty much the definition of conservatism.  They want to conserve the old ways of doing things.  They think progress is bad.  Amish people are really conservative.

Still, stem cell research is happening, because with or without government funding or even permission, scientists are going to do research, and the whole world is not completely controlled by the United States.  Once the medical procedures have actually been developed which will cure diseases and save lives, pretty much everyone will accept them.

Oh, there may be a handful of cases where somebody will refuse treatment, because it’s not God’s will or some such nonsense, but they will die.  The world they leave behind will be one in which stem cell technology is a little bit more accepted.

We can argue about politics until we are blue in the face, and we do, but technology marches on and continues to solve our problems.  Simply. Quietly.  Effectively.  If we can refrain from blowing ourselves up in a nuclear war and the planet can survive all the smoke we are blowing into the atmosphere and all the garbage we are putting in the water, the human race has a glorious future ahead of it.