Politics and Bioethics - a divided democracy

Today's the first day of the Politics and Bioethics conference in Albany. Since my plane was delayed and we didn't get in 'till 2 AM, I'm glad I don't have to be anywhere until 1 PM.

Evidently even NPR noticed - at least the emotional attraction.

It's a shame that so many of these discussions do devolve into political divisions. Stephen Myers is reporting that there's a "move on to get MoveOn.org" involved in pushing for Senate passage of funding for destructive embryonic stem cell research. He's also posted some of the comments at Dvorak's blog, where explanations about the nature of embryonic stem cell research is dismissed as "superstition" and parroting leaders.

I find it preferable and reasonable to assume that those who enter the conversation have done at least a little thinking about the issues, even if they don't know the most up-to-date facts or draw different conclusions from those facts. Working from that assumption and what you learn that they know may yield more consensus and eventual results than resorting to labeling, name calling and ridicule.

And be the solution to the Future of Bioethics.