# 327 Monday, May 7, 2007 - FIRES IN THE STATES

A politician once flew a jet over America and said, "There is no population
problem- plenty of space down there-look at all that empty desert!"

Like those spaces of land without the water to sustain life, there are vast
areas of ignorance in my stem cell knowledge.

I don't know, for example, how many states there are with stem cell research
laws (for or against) and programs (with or without money), and who are the
friends of research and who are the enemies- no, I shouldn't say enemies,
because they may change their minds-the opposition.

State efforts are of enormous consequence, to help, or to hurt.

At their best, states can actively encourage (i.e. give money to) to the
scientists who fight for cure.

At their worst, state efforts can stop progress altogether, by allowing
fundamentalist claptrap to overrule science.

In the next year and a half, there will be a lot of little fires in the
states, and we will need fire-fighters to extinguish them. Why now?

2008 is fast approaching. The opposition is on its way out.

It is my bet the Republicans will suffer major losses, including the White
House. This will help us enormously.

For political advantage, conservative leadership in the GOP allowed the
Religious Right to determine their science policy, and branded their party
as anti-stem cell.

We need only look at the voting records and the official platforms to verify
this.

Democrat leaders, with rare exceptions, are pro-stem cell research;
Republicans leaders, with rare exceptions, are against.

Democrat leaders want to fund stem cell research scientists; Republican
leaders want to throw them in jail.

In time, the stem cell differences between the two parties will disappear.
Already the free enterprise supporters are shaking their heads at the
religious restrictions on business. Republicans will remember they are the
party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, all of whom
respected and supported science.

And above all, Republicans are families too. They love their children as
strongly as any Democrat; they want their loved ones safe. So of course,
they will support stem cell research.

One day, stem cell research will one day be as calmly regarded as
anesthesia, vaccination or flu shots-- all of which were massively opposed
by conservative religion.

Also, it is my hope that the biotech companies will cease being so
politically timid. It is time they got involved. In California, biotech is
bigger than aeronautics in terms of jobs, but you would never know it in
terms of political involvement.

But in the meantime, the opposition is in power.

And their beliefs are sincere, however misguided they may seem.

Before they lose their strangle-hold on governmental policy, the Religious
Right and their representatives will do as much damage as they possibly can.

In big ways and small, they will try to pass anti-stem cell research laws.

What we have to do is keep track of every state, so we can help each other.

The first thing, of course, is to buy office supplies.

I bought a file box and 25 folders.

Gloria typed the names of 25 states onto file tabs, and bingo-I am in
business.

Twenty-five empty folders.

Hmm. Pause for reflection.

Phone book.

Let's start with-Maryland.

Who is a major fighter for research in Maryland?

Sue Pendleton. Wheelchair driver friend since forever, did a spinal cord
injury research support bill like Paul Richter's and mine, major player in
stem cell politics.

Hmm. What else do I know about Maryland?

State Senator Paula Hollinger, out of office now, but whose dedicated
support for the research was a shining example.

Maryland only has a 90 day legislative session every year.

And it is not a big state-plus the Religious Right has enormous influence
there-could they do anything?

Stay tuned.

P.S.  you are in the mood to do a kindness for a thoroughly in-over-his-head
individual, please consider emailing me some tips about your state.

Who are the key players, pro and con?

Which group is the main supporter?

Are there bills or laws in progress (or in place already) to help or hurt
stem cell research?

By Don Reed
www.stemcellbattles.com

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