Did you see where that woman now has full time care for the babies .............don't get me wrong - I'm sure glad for the kids ... but, I think ... oh well, what I'm thinking isn't too nice about her ... like maybe she's not fit ?
Obama's policy on science sends signal to world ..
My, science over ideology as a basis for making important decisions in the scientific realm, thank you.
The StarPhoenix .. March 11, 2009
The change in direction that President Barack Obama mapped out for stem cell research is more of a course adjustment for the United States than an about-face.
Mr. Obama has reversed a controversial policy put in place by his predecessor that withheld federal funding from research that involved stem cells taken from human embryos created since August 2001. His move will help relieve some of the red tape that was involved in this controversial research, but doesn't open the door to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
There continues to exist strict political guidelines put in place by Congress that bars the use of federal U.S. funds to conduct research on embryos directly. It will take that level of government to remove these restrictions -- something that it has tried to do in the past but failed because of a presidential veto by George W. Bush.
The change in direction by Mr. Obama also will be subject to a new set of moral guidelines the president mandated the National Institutes of Health to draw up over the next four months or so. It's also worth remembering that even under the former guidelines, research into the use of embryonic stem cells wasn't prohibited. It continued to be funded by private organizations and even a number of states.
And, although scientists have long believed that these cells, which have the potential to be turned into any tissue in the body, are the key to regenerating damaged organs or treating chronic illnesses such as spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease and even diabetes, it's worth noting that more recent research indicates that sources other than embryos can be used to produce the stem cells.
For example, scientists have been able to use viruses to convert skin cells into stem cells. More recently, researchers at the University of Toronto and in Japan found a way to make that conversion without the use of viruses, which could cause cancer as a side effect.
Even with these discoveries, however, it is worth noting that the dream of using stem cells, embryonic or otherwise, as a cure-all to address much human suffering is a long way from reality. President Obama's announcements notwithstanding, the realization of these goals not only is a long way off but continues to be far less than a sure bet.
Still, there is inspiration in Mr. Obama's statement. As important as allowing American taxpayers once again to help fund such fundamental research is the president's announcement that his administration intends to put science, rather than ideology, at the core of such important decisions. His order "is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda -- and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology," said the president.
This, by itself, can have a profound impact on science and public policy not only in the United States but also around the world. The U.S. has been host to a culture of free scientific thought for generations. By allowing special interest groups to stifle that culture, America's innovation and its role as world leader in research and innovation suffered.
If President Obama is true to his word, America will be back in the game. Given the amount of support directed toward science and innovation in the American stimulation package, this may be the real message in his stem cell announcement.
That would mean countries such as Canada will have to re-energize their efforts at scientific discovery and innovation. In spite of assurance from the Conservative government that this continues to be its goal, that certainly wasn't the message Canada's scientific community took from this year's budget.
And when it comes to holding on to academic resources, perception is as important as reality.
After former president Bush announced the embryonic research restrictions, based on his religious beliefs, many scientists who could have turned to alternative sources to fund their work instead went abroad to countries they believed would be more welcoming of their work.
Canada will have to make it clear it is determined to play with the big boys when it comes to funding innovation. The announcement this week that universities will have free reign in how they spend stimulus money will help, but more important will be to show a commitment to innovation by allowing the science community a direct line to influence government policy.
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