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Stem cell research divides even those it would help (Strong views as voters face $450M question)
star ledger ^ | November 01, 2007 | RUDY LARINI

Posted on 11/03/2007 6:55:41 PM PDT by Coleus

Thomas Lorenc of Lakewood and Scott Simpkins of Williamstown are both quadriplegics who've been using wheelchairs for years. But when it comes to embryonic stem cell research, their opinions couldn't be more different, despite widespread belief that such research holds the potential to help repair spinal cord injuries or cure illnesses such as Lou Gehrig's and Parkinson's diseases. Just as it polarizes the public, embryonic stem cell research likewise drives a wedge between those who stand to benefit from advances the research may yield:

Lorenc opposes it, saying to kill an embryo is to take human life.

Simpkins supports it. "To me, stem cell research is the next frontier, the next scientific frontier," he said.

The controversy goes to the ballot Tuesday when voters will be asked to approve a public question authorizing a $450 million bond issue for stem cell research over 10 years by universities and private entities. Supporters believe unfettered research on both embryonic stem cells and stem cells derived from adult sources such as umbilical cord blood has lifesaving potential, while opponents fear the research would focus mainly on embryonic stem cells, and possibly lead to cloning.

Lorenc, a 61-year-old retired civil engineer who was diagnosed with a spinal tumor nearly two decades ago, is adamantly opposed to embryonic stem cell research and dismisses the possibility it could yield a way to regenerate neural tissue to cure spinal cord injuries. Stem cells, the building blocks of life, have the ability to morph into various body tissues.

"Embryonic stem cell research kills, and I don't want to kill to cure," Lorenc said, citing the argument that such research destroys human embryos. Simpkins, 36, was injured in a mountain biking accident seven years ago and ardently supports research on both embryonic and adult stem cells. Opposing embryonic stem

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; US: New Jersey
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Corzine hails start of stem cell facility
 
Kicking the tires of the stem cell machine

1 posted on 11/03/2007 6:55:43 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus

There is stem cell research. We do not need the govt to waste on money it.


2 posted on 11/03/2007 7:10:25 PM PDT by Perdogg (Elections have consequences.)
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To: Coleus
Corzine hails start of stem cell facility

it's no surprise that the issue is a "$450mm question" in corzine country.

Gotta wonder how much wall street money is riding on this.

3 posted on 11/03/2007 7:23:22 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (keep the heat on the hillary.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

that’s the problem, escr doesn’t work and the pharmaceutical companies are not investing, so what does the legislature and corzine do? let the taxpayers pay for research doesn’t work.


4 posted on 11/03/2007 7:37:42 PM PDT by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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Benefits of Stem Cells to Human Patients - DoNoHarm

 

 

5 posted on 11/03/2007 7:39:49 PM PDT by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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To: Coleus

Question - 2-Stem Cell Research - Ballot Issue
County Precincts Yes No
Total 4794/6289 442,581
46% 519,049
54%
Atlantic 0/163 0
0% 0
0%
Bergen 0/553 0
0% 0
0%
Burlington 364/365 38,811
49% 39,825
51%
Camden 178/331 22,578
53% 19,915
47%
Cape May 128/128 10,008
38% 16,118
62%
Cumberland 92/92 7,365
35% 13,878
65%
Essex 452/551 32,850
59% 22,726
41%
Gloucester 226/226 23,178
47% 26,619
53%
Hudson 425/446 20,288
66% 10,413
34%
Hunterdon 114/114 11,481
39% 18,230
61%
Mercer 237/257 32,468
53% 28,370
47%
Middlesex 406/597 33,354
47% 37,648
53%
Monmouth 446/452 51,349
43% 67,520
57%
Morris 372/395 38,767
44% 48,604
56%
Ocean 383/383 39,751
35% 72,555
65%
Passaic 263/281 22,664
49% 23,229
51%
Salem 45/45 7,235
42% 9,913
58%
Somerset 17/263 2,336
59% 1,594
41%
Sussex 119/119 12,115
37% 20,343
63%
Union 437/438 28,785
50% 28,623
50%
Warren 90/90 7,198
36% 12,926
64%


6 posted on 11/06/2007 8:30:34 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Coleus

The stem cell research bill in the DPRNJ is going down in a blaze of glory:

http://elections.nj.com/dynamic/files/elections/2007/by_county/NJ_Question_1106.html?SITE=NJNEWELN&SECTION=POLITICS


7 posted on 11/06/2007 8:31:37 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Eric Blair 2084

BUMP!


8 posted on 11/06/2007 8:35:10 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Eric Blair 2084

great news, thanks.


9 posted on 11/06/2007 8:37:53 PM PST by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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To: Coleus

NJ Right to Life did a great job here in the DPRNJ. Instead of making it an abstract moral issue that idiot voters here can’t comprehend, they dealt in the fact that ESC research has cured nothing and Big Pharma won’t even sink their own money into it because it is a loser.

The only people who were pimping this idea were grant junkies looking to suck some money off the Gubmint teet.


10 posted on 11/06/2007 8:42:17 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Lancey Howard

I’m frankly surprised. Idiot voters here get things wrong so often that I sometimes wonder if Democracy is really a good form of government. I was beginning to think that people were just too damn stupid to govern themselves.

This is really a sign that when given the proper facts, people will make the right choice.


11 posted on 11/06/2007 8:45:55 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Eric Blair 2084; Lancey Howard

We have to thank the NJ Right to Life, Steve Lonegan and Americans for Prosperity and the Catholic Church for the defeat of Question #2.


12 posted on 11/06/2007 9:02:38 PM PST by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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To: Coleus

Steve Lonegan is a man with guts. I really like him.


13 posted on 11/06/2007 9:16:46 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Eric Blair 2084
The only people who were pimping this idea were grant junkies looking to suck some money off the Gubmint teet.

Yeah, that's what the "global warming" hoax is all about, too.
With the libtards, it's ALWAYS about the money.

14 posted on 11/06/2007 9:18:39 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard

As a capitalist myself I have no problem with making everything about the money. I would have a shred of respect for left wing Socialists if they would just come out and admit that when they say “It’s not about the money” it really means, it’s all about the money.

Like you, what I can’t stand is when left wing baby killing, environmental wacko libs try to pass off their agenda as being a philanthropic altruistic quest to help their fellow man.


15 posted on 11/06/2007 9:31:31 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Eric Blair 2084

Just to clarify, with libtards it’s all about OTHER PEOPLE’s money, and how they can get their filthy hands on it by using big government to confiscate it by force from taxpaying, traditional American families (the Republican base) and then hand it over to them, the libtards.

That’s why they elect Democrats.


16 posted on 11/06/2007 9:40:26 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard
Yep, they are down with OPP (other people's property)

"There are four ways in which you can spend money. You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then you really watch out what you’re doing, and you try to get the most for your money. Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I’m not so careful about the content of the present, but I’m very careful about the cost. Then, I can spend somebody else’s money on myself. And if I spend somebody else’s money on myself, then I’m sure going to have a good lunch! Finally, I can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get. And that’s government. And that’s close to 40% of our national income."

---Milton Friedman

17 posted on 11/06/2007 10:04:49 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: Coleus

Lonegan definitely. Hey, who made those “Stop higher taxes: vote no on all questions” signs? they were all over the place up here in sussex cty. Hell, that’s how I first found out about the ballot questions.


18 posted on 11/07/2007 6:02:33 AM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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To: Eric Blair 2084
This is really a sign that when given the proper facts, people will make the right choice.

I've pointed out before that NJ is crippled by something a lot of people don't realize. We basically don't have our own TV news. In northern NJ, you get NYC news. In south Jerz, you get Philly. Some ppl get the cable nj news, but a lot of people don't.

So that means when ppl turn on the tv, they hear about house fires in the bronx, not about ballot questions in Trenton. I believe that makes us generally less informed about our state gubmint and state goings on generally. We're swallowed up between two large media markets.

19 posted on 11/07/2007 6:04:49 AM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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To: Huck

Hey, who made those “Stop higher taxes: vote no on all questions” signs? >>

Lonegan did. Those signs were a great help!


20 posted on 11/08/2007 9:59:06 PM PST by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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