The Stem Cell Scam

legion · 07-25-2005, 07:34 AM

Personally, I am still undecided on the moral implications of stem cell research, much as I am still undecided on abortion. As such, I don't really oppose stem cell research.

I do, however, vehemently oppose the public funding of stem cell research. Why?

Quote:

The reason that embryonic stem cell researchers are agitating for taxpayer money is that their private funding has dried up. Private investors and venture capitalists are not investing in embryonic stem cell research because they perceive it to be a pipe dream unlikely to produce any progress and, hence, investment returns, in any reasonable time frame.

Researchers aspiring to be on the dole and investors whose money is mired in floundering stem cell research firms are looking to federal funds for relief. Such groups already hoodwinked California voters for $3 billion last year with Proposition 71 — a sum that pales in comparison with what Congress could slop in their troughs.

The bottom line is that if embryonic stem cell research had real promise, private investment would be overflowing into biotech companies. But it's not.

I think this sums it up. I know I will be criticized for posting from this source, but this is the most recent place I have seen this. I've heard this all before from other sources.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163272,00.html

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:02 AM

We did not vote for this expecting a short turn around for results. Investment capital looks short term. This is just a spin put out by anti stem cell people. It is totallly predictable for them to continue to wage the fight using specious arguments.

ronin · 07-25-2005, 08:10 AM

incorrect. if stem cell research were the panacea that pro groups make it out to be, then the private sector would be all over it. plain and simple

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

This is rught up there with Fox News' "Nobel nominee expert" claiming Terry Schiavo could be rehabilitated.

Steve is right. It's a long-term investment. One that won't pay off for over 10 years. Private investors want payback with interest in 6-18 months, and can get it other places.

Here's a fairly unbiased (lay) commentary on the status of ES research:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/GuestColumns/Swenson20050708.shtml

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:18 AM

again specious. Stem cell research is long term and is not a panacea.

If you don't want it in your state, don't vote for it. We would appreciate that. thanks

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Quote:

If you don't want it in your state, don't vote for it.

As if that would do any good. We didn't vote for abortion either, but we have that.

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:30 AM

same can be said for capital punishment and your agument is?

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

So if our tax dollars are funding stem cell research, what is our payback? We will still have to pay for any treatments derived from this technology. If/when it does pay off, and riches are made, how does the state benefit?

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:39 AM

So what was your payback from space program?

Sometimes you need to look beyond your own wallet.

Burnin' oil · 07-25-2005, 08:40 AM

The hogs are gatherin' at the trough . . . business as usual . . .

Tishabet · 07-25-2005, 08:41 AM

Most of the learned biomedical research folks I pal around with (I work in the kendall area of Cambridge, MA...one of the epicenters of biomedical/genetic research) agree that stem cell research leading to anything useful is a pipe dream. That's also the opinion of one of my friends who is an M.D./PhD here at MIT researching just this kind of thing. I have no problem with stem cell research personally/morally, but I feel that the political polarization of this issue in our last election necessitated some fairly overstated claims as to the feasibility of realizing real benefit from stem cell research. People who are actually "in the know" about the feasibility are staying away.... Shouldn't that be telling us something?

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepaa
So what was your payback from space program?

Sometimes you need to look beyond your own wallet.

The space program was of a slightly broader scope than simply funnelling tax dollars to a couple of private companies, to spend as they see fit.

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:54 AM

"In the know" people back in the early 60's would also have said it was impossible to go to the moon. The enormity of the challenges was staggering.

The future does not come from "in the know" people. You get the present. They only know what they know today, not what will be discovered tomorrow.

It may not pan out, but I will support the effort.

stevepaa · 07-25-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
The space program was of a slightly broader scope than simply funnelling tax dollars to a couple of private companies, to spend as they see fit.

So which companies are getting the money and what is meant by "to spend as they see fit". Can they buy condos in Rio?
Specious.

BlueSkyJaunte · 07-25-2005, 08:59 AM

Look at it from the corporate perspective (re: private investment drying up).

Do you want to fund new ways to sell more drugs or would you rather fund developments that have the potential to effect cures?

Burnin' oil · 07-25-2005, 09:00 AM

More drugs! More drugs!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by bryanthompson
As if that would do any good. We didn't vote for abortion either, but we have that.

Do you really? How many abortions were performed in Nebraska last year?

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

weeniehead, killing babies in general is wrong. I don't need to keep a tally to know that it's wrong, but do you have any idea how many millions of abortions have happened since Roe v. Wade?

Stevepaa, are you honestly comparing abortion, killing an innocent baby, to executing the worst of the worst in our society? You live in Cali anyway, so it's not like the death penalty actually means anything out there.

Moses · 07-25-2005, 09:38 AM

Back to the topic; How is it that we lead the world in biomedicine without public money? How did Genentech develop Humulin and Epogen without a special tax?

This stem cell funding is a boondoggle, pure and simple. Why don't they just build every professional sports team in California a new ballpark at public expense? The public would enjoy the new digs and the owners would be very grateful. It's the same damn thing.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Nebraska has executed a total of 3 people since 1976.

There are currently seven people on Death Row in Nebraska. Of the 7 Death Row prisoners, 1 is black, 5 are white and 1 is Latino.

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Yes, California has executed a total of 10 people since 1976.

There are currently 635 prisoners on Death Row in California. Of the 635 Death Row prisoners, 228 are black, 248 are white, 126 are Latino, 14 are Native American and 19 are Asian.