Proposal 2 - Stem Cell Research

[sass_in_the_pants]

ROPOSAL 2

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS HUMAN EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

-Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits:

-the embryos:

-are created for fertility treatment purposes;

-are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs;

-would be discarded unless used for research;

-were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment.

-Provide that stem cells cannot be taken from human embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins.

-Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research.

-Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research, future therapies and cures.

Should this proposal be adopted?

--Yes

--No

(I will be voting No, by the by)

[Simon Bar Sinister]

all for it.

[phee]

All for it as well.... but it will loose as those opposing it had a lot more money for the anti-2 campaign

[savageminstrel]

I am for it.. will vote yes.

[bean]

I'm voting yes. Sadly though, it will not pass because people will believe all the anti-2 ads.

[Homicidalheathen]

yes

[Black Jack (1)]

Help Women have babies or better my vote is YES.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

but.. it wont do anything...

I mean, Federal law only allows embryonic research on existing lines.

Big waste of time and money.

I'd be for it if there as some benefit to working with embryonic stem cells over umbilical stem cells or adult stem cells. None of them various treatments we have now come from embryonic stem cells.. they all come adult or unbilical... Even the University of Wisconsin at Madison that is the center of stem cell research stopped doing anything with embryonic stem cells because they were far to unstable. That is, they cause cancer in every line of research on them.

On top of that, current research has found a relatively easy way to turn just about any cell into a stem cell that produces stable treatments.

[n0Mad]

Abstain. I don't know enough about this subject to make an educated vote and I believe that an uneducated vote is worse than not voting at all.

[Slogo]

for it.

I actually see a sign in favor of it in front of the local Catholic Church.

Someone was being a total dick and I love em' for it

[Destroit]

Completely for it. Imo the only reason anyone I've ever met opposed stem cell research was religious, and I would really like to see a separation of church and state. Outside of religion there's pretty much no reason to oppose this.

[Oh_My_Goth]

Surprise, surprise.....

I am all for it.....

[asphyxian_doll]

All for it, no argument here.

[SaGa]

if its that important to get stem cells then yah. but it seems from what gaf said. its not exactly needed

[peelingchrome]

Yeah, I can get behind this one, too. I think I spent all of my fervor expounding on why I back Proposal 1, though, so I'll end this one here. If anyone cares to ask, pm me, and I'll explain myself.

[TygerLili]

For it.

[prick]

I am 100% in favor of it.

[TitsMcGee]

yes

[Raev]

For.

[punk_princess]

YES

[Rev.Reverence]

...not only am I for it...the ONLY advertisement I saw mentioning it was against it...

(& the next day I saw a "no on 2" sign next to a McCain sign on a neighbors lawn & knew for sure)...

[punk_princess]

I have only seen 1 lawn sign saying "Vote Yes on Prposal 2" & it was in front of an abortion clinic. Anyone else seen any?

I might get a vote no sign and cross off the no to make it say yes.

[Rev.Reverence]

I have only seen 1 lawn sign saying "Vote Yes on Prposal 2" & it was in front of an abortion clinic. Anyone else seen any?

I might get a vote no sign and cross off the no to make it say yes.

...nope...not around me...

..this seems to be a very private election cycle...at least around here...I see very few signs for anything above locals..

[eleven]

I vote yes

[the eternal]

but.. it wont do anything...

I mean, Federal law only allows embryonic research on existing lines.

Big waste of time and money.

I'd be for it if there as some benefit to working with embryonic stem cells over umbilical stem cells or adult stem cells. None of them various treatments we have now come from embryonic stem cells.. they all come adult or unbilical... Even the University of Wisconsin at Madison that is the center of stem cell research stopped doing anything with embryonic stem cells because they were far to unstable. That is, they cause cancer in every line of research on them.

On top of that, current research has found a relatively easy way to turn just about any cell into a stem cell that produces stable treatments.

Abstain. I don't know enough about this subject to make an educated vote and I believe that an uneducated vote is worse than not voting at all.

if its that important to get stem cells then yah. but it seems from what gaf said. its not exactly needed

Let me edumacate just a bit.

Bush approved stem cell research, but there were limitations to that approval.

As Gaf stated above, it can only be studied on existing lines (14 to be exact) which are all contaminated.

When this problem prompted legislation, an overwhelming majority of Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, proposed legislation expanding research to all lines of stem cells, it PASSED!--

And then Bush vetoed it.

HERE'S THE DEAL:

Stem cells are the building blocks of our bodies. When a sperm fertilizes an egg, they create cells.

Those cells can become ANYTHING.

They can become nerves to heal spinal cord injuries so paraplegics can walk again.

They can become brain cells so Alzheimer's can be prevented or cured.

The list goes on and on.

BUT, obviously, this will take a shit-ton of research to be able to refine to that level.

Now, what about adult stem cells or umbilical cord blood, as Gaf brought up?

The limitation of adult stem cells is that they have formed and refined to the point that they can only address one specific issue. So, certain adult cells can only address a very specific part of the knee, or the spine, and so on.

And they've been found to be more difficult to work with than embryonic stem cells.

Umbilical cord blood cells, can ONLY address problems in the blood like hemophilia.

Stem cells can form to address anything, if given the opportunity.

WHERE do they come from:

DISCARDED eggs from fertility clinics!!!!!!!!!

How silly is it that there are organizations like the Catholic League organizing against this

as if it is tantamount to killing babies, when we're talking about taking eggs that are routinely pitched in the trash

when a couple changes their mind or when the fertility clinic that helped them have their child, calls and they say

"We don't need the remaining eggs--pitch 'em."

THIS IS NOT CLONING! (that was banned 10 yrs ago by the MI legislature)

This is taking eggs that were going to put down a garbage disposal, and working with them, so people bound to wheelchairs can walk again.

It's NOT a waste of money, since this proposal involves ZERO taxpayer dollars toward research.

It simply allows places like the University of Michigan to independently do research if they so choose.

It IS true that with stem cell federal guidelines, we are limited to those existing strains.

However, both McCain an Obama have expressed support for stem cell research in the past, and so a federal law

lifting the ban on the other strains of stem cell research is likely in the next year.

IF that happens, states can still prevent the research from going forward.

Right now, MI state law prohibits the destruction of an embryo for use in stem cell research.

We NEED to say yes to this proposal, with our voices and with our votes.

We NEED to say it is more important to cure Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and spinal cord injuries than throwing embryos in the dumpster.

And we won't be alone.

On our side:

Nancy Reagan

Orrin Hatch

Gerald Ford

Michigan Nurses Association

United Spinal Association

Alliance for Aging Research

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Parkinsons Action Network

and just about every major newspaper

On the other side:

Right to Life Organizations

Conservative Politicians

American Assocation of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists

It's good science versus ideology.

You can disagree with my political views,

vote for Bozo the clown in the election,

I really don't care

but I plead with all of those of you who are still unsure,

LEARN THE FACTS and then

VOTE YES ON PROP 2

Even the smallest chance to save a life is better than just throwing it away.