I Vote NO On The Missouri "Stem Cell" Amendment

After doing some reading and listening on the subject, I'll be voting NO on Amendment 2 (the Stem Cell Initiative) for the following reasons:

• It involves the destruction of a human embryo. You can disagree with me all you want about when life begins. We'll have to agree to disagree.
• We have no business amending Missouri's constitution for the purpose of funding research. Even the News-Leader calls it economic blackmail. (I find it strange that some of the very same people who scream about corporate welfare have no problem with this.)
• To date adult stem cells have shown more promise, though Harvard University did find that embryonic stem cells can help repair heart tissue.

There are some, such as Hands Off Our Ovaries,  that are worried about the exploitation of women:

Biotechnological research and development often affects women more directly than men. In the case of human embryonic cloning, women’s health and safety have already been affected—adversely. Sadly, there have been too many instances of coercion and deception, and violations of informed consent. Left uncontrolled, research demands will place undue burdens on young, poor women. Read the Entire Manifesto

For more on this issue, check out the following links: The Truth About Stem Cells, A Bad Amendment,The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics, Adult stem cells affect a cure, Natl. Institutes of Health: Stem Cell Information. Missouri blogger Ask The Pastor has compiled lots more useful links.
 

Comments

[Katie]

I had planned to vote yes on the stem cell issue until reading this and hearing some ads on tv. My mother is highly in favor of it along with all of my friends. What she doesn't understand is that she thinks they only use an unfertilized egg and make it think it's fertilized to make stem cells. Or at least that's what she told me. She doesn't realize that is not only dangerous but it involves more than just the egg.

[acline]

Hello... this is off topic, but:

I'm inviting you to participate in the Springfield Bloggers live election night blogging event at the Patton Alley Pub. The blogging begins at 7 p.m. Bring a laptop...or not.

Please see my site for details: rhetorica.net

Also, as a local blogger, you are automatically a member (yes, we take anyone!). We meet first and third Tuesdays.

I hope to see you there.

[John]

I'm voting against it because it would allow cloning in order to kill the clone, but ban cloning in order to let the clone live.

What kind of sick, twisted position is that?