Thursday, February 26, 2009

Spare The Data...Save The Profit

We are all aware of the fact big business rules. The largest corporations with the deepest pockets pretty much dictate how we are going to live our lives. They put the most heat on our politicians to vote against the majority of their own constituents in favor of the issue which raises the most money. The true, talented politician, is the one which whom convinces his constituents he has their best interest at heart, and stays in office, or climbs to a higher office.

The large automobile manufacturers have always either paid off smaller, independent car makers with a better product, or just forced them out of business. Money rules, and most of us don't care, as long as we, the end user, get fooled with the pricier gas guzzler over the more efficient technology out there. Well, all is fair in love and big business, I guess.

There is another issue on the horizon, which denotes a little more consideration from us, the public. For several years we have witnessed celebrities in front of senate hearings, and politicians, spending incalculable time and money fighting for embryonic stem cell research. It has been one of the most embattled moral issues of our generation. To most, it is just a means to solve many medical issues, regardless of the cost, or at least that is what they have been sold. As far as the moral side, life has always been cheap when it comes to big money. Even when it was entirely banned and up for debate, the research had been going on for years.

We have heard the horror stories of fetuses being produced and paid for, rather than using naturally aborted discards. As the issue of when life actually begins cannot even be decided by people claiming to be Christians, where can the boundaries be drawn. I feel the pain of those whom have suffered a debilitating illness or injury, such as Christopher Reeve. However, where to we draw the line.

Just recently, I came across a young lady, Janna Legg, who is a rep for Stem Tech Health Sciences. Janna handles a product which promotes adult stem cells, called Stem Enhance. It is a supplement which promotes the stem cells in our own body. Since I don't read a lot of science magazines, I was unaware that adult stem cell research has been going on for a few years now. I have seen no celebrities going to Congress to promote government spending on this moral alternative.

In a recent interview, Dr. Francisco Contreras, President, Oasis of Hope Hospital, stated adult stem cell research has the potential to do more than anticipated with embryonic research. Oasis of Hope is an alternative, advanced cancer, treatment center with noted success. So why wouldn't we want to take the high road and eliminate the amoral technology? Money!!?

Embryonic stem cell research has been escalating even as it was illegal. How many products are we ingesting daily, which have been declared dangerous? Twenty five years ago margarine put many butter manufacturers out of business, as we were told it was the healthier alternative. Sugar substitutes are known to cause problems in rats, yet, we continue to feed it to our rats. Organizations and special interest groups are forcing their will on us every time we turn around. We are told what we may eat and how much, by a relative few, who have determined what is good for us by their standards. Complete data on every issue is withheld from us and the determination of what we are allowed to drink, eat, (or smoke) is forced on us.

Because a relative few have been stricken with skin cancer as our atmosphere has been ruined by the big money corporations, we were all told to cover up and avoid the sun; by the manufacturers of sun blockers. Recently, a study showed a rise in medical problems, due to lack of sunlight. Everyday, products are being taken off store shelves and people are dying due to lack of quality control which used to be the built in standard for food processing companies. We didn't need bigger government to enforce health concerns regarding food processing a few decades ago. It was the moral duty of a processor to ensure the safety of the public. Who would consider a government agency would be needed to regulate the safety of a toy for our children, as the toy company was more concerned about a little larger profit over the lives of humans?

At what point do we start taking responsibility for ourselves and demand we don't need to be taken care of by the few, which whom stand to profit by the decisions they make for us? When it comes to a medical breakthrough which eludes our moral reason, or an alternative which could keep our moral integrity intact, why should it be decided by a few? The special interest groups always seem to slip in the back door. Whether through money, or trickery, the determinations which poorly represent our society, emerge victorious more times than not. If our tax dollars are going to something which is so questionable among so many souls, why would it not be reasonable for all data to be produced, and the American people are given the opportunity to decide?