There are many issues facing our state's future. The economy is the biggest boogyman at the moment. Since it is getting close to Halloween, it might be appropriate for me to go on with ghost stories about that. But after seeing this ad, I knew I couldn't miss subject before Halloween had passed!
Human / animal hybrids! Spooky - I love it! Of course since we're at the end of the longest Presidential election cycle in memory we're probably all a little jaded about crazy alarmist advertising like that. At least they made it fun. But Prop 2 is a serious subject with serious arguments on both sides. I can understand the core motivations behind both the proponents of the issue and the opposition. I may personally disagree with the opposition's core argument, but despite the alarmism surrounding their techniques, the motivations are sincere and well-intended. Both sides deserve some serious consideration.
To get us started, I found a very well done piece by aspiring reporter / anchor Cedra Mayfield.
Here is the wording of the Proposal itself. I didn't include the ballot page at the end - it's basically a summary of the prop itself.
PROPOSAL 08-2
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
A proposal to amend the State Constitution to address human embryo and
human embryonic stem cell research in Michigan. (Proposal provided under
an initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 7, 2008.)
The proposal would add a new Section 27 to Article 1 of the State Constitution
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Section 27. (1) Nothing in this section shall alter Michigan’s current prohibition
on human cloning.
(2) To ensure that Michigan citizens have access to stem cell therapies and
cures, and to ensure that physicians and researchers can conduct the most
promising forms of medical research in this state, and that all such research is
conducted safely and ethically, any research permitted under federal law on human
embryos may be conducted in Michigan, subject to the requirements of federal law
and only the following additional limitations and requirements:
(a) No stem cells may be taken from a human embryo more than fourteen
days after cell division begins; provided, however, that time during
which an embryo is frozen does not count against this fourteen day
limit.
(b) The human embryos were created for the purpose of fertility treatment
and, with voluntary and informed consent, documented in writing, the
person seeking fertility treatment chose to donate the embryos for
research; and
(i) the embryos were in excess of the clinical need of the person
seeking the fertility treatment and would otherwise be discarded
unless they are used for research; or
(ii) the embryos were not suitable for implantation and would otherwise
be discarded unless they are used for research.
(c) No person may, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell human
embryos for stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures.
(d) All stem cell research and all stem cell therapies and cures must be
conducted and provided in accordance with state and local laws of
general applicability, including but not limited to laws concerning
scientific and medical practices and patient safety and privacy, to the
extent that any such laws do not:
(i) prevent, restrict, obstruct, or discourage any stem cell research or
stem cell therapies and cures that are permitted by the provisions
of this section; or
(ii) create disincentives for any person to engage in or otherwise
associate with such research or therapies or cures.
(3) Any provision of this section held unconstitutional shall be severable from
the remaining portions of this section.
The group MiCause is the main force behind the opposition to Prop 2. They are the ones responsible for all the "2goes2far" signs you see clustered around churches. The group seems to be heavily backed by churches in particular, the Michigan Catholic Conference and Right to Life Michigan. That makes political sense I guess. Here is the opposition website.
MiCause
Here's one of their arguments against Prop 2:
It's important to know that they are also taking a "waste of taxpayer money" approach to this as well. This argument seems to be a bit murkier to me. Both sides are calling each other big fat liars on this count. In any event, judging from the list of MiCause coalition members, I suspect this is more of a tactic than a basic argument for them.
The proposal itself is putting the question on the ballot is Cure Michigan. A lot of the campaign in favor of Proposal 2 comes from a trust named for A. Alfred Taubman, the shopping mall magnate and philanthropist who is one of U-M's biggest donors. Aside from patients who might benefit from future discoveries, the primary stakeholder in seeing Prop 2 pass appears to be the University of Michigan, which has been focusing heavily on biomedical research in general for several years. Just look at the gleaming, ultra modern looking Biomedical Research Center on Huron Avenue in Ann Arbor to get a feel for how much the University wants to showcase this.
Bill Clinton speaks in support of Proposal 2 (and other items of interest to Future Michigan)
In any event, Ann Arbor News Reporter Dave Gershman wrote a pretty great article on the proposal. You can read it hear if you didn't already read it in the paper...
MLive / Ann Arbor News article here
That should do it for now. Until next time - I promise it won't take as long.
Jason
