On March 25th, Glenn Beck did a segment where he described why he thinks American’s are frustrated with government. I found his comments to be quite illuminating. Scroll to about 2:06 remaining in the clip:
As I’m sure anyone is aware, President Obama signed an executive order today that rescinds former President George W. Bush’s executive order banning the usage of federal funds on embryonic stem cell research on embryo lines created after August 9th, 2001.
Not surprisingly the Vatican and the National Right to Life Committe have condemned the order [link] as a violation of sanctity of life. And naturally many people with ailments that embryonic stem cell research could help treat are ecstatic.
President Obama said the following:
At this moment the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown and it should not be overstated, but scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand and possibly cure some of our most devastating diseases and conditions.
Translation:
We shouldn’t overstate how cool this stuff is, but come on, guys, it’s the GREATEST STUFF EVER!!
The Associated Press is also reporting that President Obama said that the nation owes a debt of gratitude to people like Christopher Reeve, who with his wife, Dana, created a foundation dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. [link]
Spare me the hero worship.
I don’t mean to urinate on the memory of the late Superman, but caring about Stem Cell Research only after you become afflicted with something that it could possibly cure doesn’t exactly qualify a person for “debt of gratitude” status. It’s pure, unenlightened, self-interest — not all that impressive. And frankly, the only reason he got as much attention as he did, was the irony of Superman being paralyzed.
Seriously, that would be like me only caring about testicular cancer if I have it. Or welfare recipients lobbying for increased welfare benefits. Don’t get in front of cameras and say “Hey, guess what? I’m in favor of something that would directly benefit me!” because a) it’s not surprising, and b) you’re not some wonderful philanthropist for it.
If you want to be impressive, support a cause because it’s the right thing to do.
Finally, President Obama vowed that only research meeting strict ethical guidelines would be allowed. I suppose that depends on your definition of “ethical,” doesn’t it? I don’t know about you, but as far as I’m concerned, the last thing this country needs is our politicians telling us what is and is not ethical.
Author Justin Webb said “The repudiation is of a policy but also of a way of life, that puts faith above science.” [link] That’s right, we’ve decided that science is ultimate pursuit, over all else. We’ve now put the overwhelming desire to fiddle around with the building blocks of human life ahead of our conscience.
Not exactly what I call “progress.”
^Z
I’ll make this one quick.
I want to point out why there are so many earmarks in these spending packages the legislature is passing. Democrats are going to pass the spending packages, because they’re all competing for the honor to tow the party line, and support Obama’s agenda.
So the legislation is going to pass, pretty much no matter what.
So if you’re a congressman, and your distinguished colleague from the state of whatever adds earmarks to the bill, which is going to pass either way, are you about to stand by while every constituency EXCEPT yours gets something specific out of the bill?
Of course not.
If I were in congress, I’d add my earmark, so that my constituents are covered when the bill passes, but then I’d vote against the package. Why? Because I think the bill sucks, but if it’s going to pass anyway, and everyone else is getting money for their districts, I’m not going to get left out.
It’s really not any more complicated than “well if you’re gonna go have ice cream, then I want some too!”
^Z
