Contrariwise

I have long maintained that the U.S. is experiencing a conservative sociopolitical swing. The Reagan & Bush the Elder era of the 1980’s was fairly conservative. Then came President Clinton and the “do what you want” attitude of the 90’s, especially concerning science and sex. Then, after the fiasco that was the 2000 election, came clearly Christian Bush the Younger, the stem cell debate, and a renewed uproar over Roe v. Wade (or maybe that was just when I became aware of Roe…probably the latter).

When the Carhart v. Gonzales decision came down making partial-birth (IDC) abortion illegal, I was shocked and absolutely delighted. It turns out that the government can tell you what to do with your body–and your baby’s body. Remember, suicide is still illegal. If you could really do whatever you want, you’d be able to end your own life, but you can’t. Dr. Kevorkian could tell you that.

Now, with this amazing breakthrough in stem cell research (explicated in a Washington Post editorial Maura sent to me), the U.S. political pendulum is swinging even farther toward the right. Adult stem cells have cured dozens of diseases already, while research from embryonic stem cells has done nothing except incite political and ideological debate. Now Thomson has proved that not only can you do more good using adult stem cells, it’s easier. There is absolutely no need to continue embryonic stem cell research.

This is almost incredible. Almost. It would be actually incredible (which means “unbelievable”) if I didn’t believe that God knows what he’s doing.