The Iron Ring

Happy Election Day!
I voted early this morning, before work, and I sincerely hope that many many people voted today. I’m a bit ashamed of our voter turnout to be honest.

There has been a lot of discussion about which candidates are best for science. Nature weighed in on several major issues with several candidates. For some, like McCaskill in Missouri, science is becoming a major issue. McCaskill is pledging to support stem cell research. She supports an initiative in Missouri that would “amend the state's constitution to allow scientists to conduct any form of stem-cell research allowed under federal law. It is a response to attempts in the state legislature to criminalize the research.”

I think it’s becoming a bit dangerous to compartmentalize these stem cell policies this way. Its turning our country into a patchwork of science and it isn’t the best way to go about research. It also places too much power solely in the hands of politicians. And politicians have shown that they will listen to whomever they want to listen to. Look at David Prentice and his relationship with U.S. Senator Sam Brownback. Prentice mixes his religious beliefs into his science quite openly. He may have a PhD, and he may conduct research in relevant fields of adult stem cell research but I’m not convinced that he is the correct authority to advise senators.

Read my most recent column if you have a chance.