Letters 5/4/06

May 3, 2006

Condom Wars Part III
In response to letter of misinformation from Matt Davis, I have to comment on his reckless, misinformed, and plain out wrong response to Jim Carruthers‘ letter (4/20).   
I know that the religious right has their own agenda, and use the lie and misinformation that are readily available on websites throughout the Internet. But what he presented was just wrong.
I am the outreach coordinator for one of Northern Michigan‘s last HIV Preventions programs, called Risk-To-Resilience funded by the Michigan AIDS Fund.  It is an MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) HIV Prevention program, which I‘m sure is turning Matt‘s face green. It helps educate gay men and community members at large on ways to prevent HIV and STD transmission. 
Condoms do work! Abstinence-based programs DO NOT! It‘s time to get their heads out of their other body parts and face reality.  
It is sad that the conservative religious right can only embrace one concept of prevention, and that is abstinence only.  It‘s a great concept, but it‘s time to get real and face facts.  
Our teens are having sex and will continue to have sex. Give them the tools and knowledge on how to protect themselves from HIV, STDs, and unwanted pregnancies.  We owe that to them, not our own personal political religious beliefs.
There is so much misinformation and ignorance out there. If a condom is used correctly with water-based lubrications, it is one of the safest ways to have sex. It‘s the facts; learn them.

Brian Simerson • Outreach 
Coordinator, Risk-To-Resilience 
   Outreach Program

Your country or the GOP?     
According to an April 17, 2006 poll in the Express, President Bush had a 54.3% approval rating  and 45.7% disapproval rating.  I cannot help but wonder when local Republicans will  start putting the love of their country over the love of their party.   
The current national polls show Bush with around a 34% approval rating (20% difference). What can our area possibly know that  the rest of this country doesn‘t? 
We continue to lose jobs under the nation‘s worst economic plan -- or maybe I should say lack of a plan -- unless you count borrow-and-spend and job outsourcing trade agreements as part of the economic plan. We are experiencing record $700 billion trade deficits; an ugly mismanaged war; bought and paid for legislators; and Medicare Part D.  The President also admitted that he spied without warrants and leaked Iraq intelligence to get even with someone who disagreed with him!  
When you buy your medicine, pay insurance, fill up your vehicles and pay for home heating -- remember these three industries are making record profits -- they are huge  donors to this administration‘s campaign funds.
If you think this is just a coincidence, you must be one of the 54.3% that thinks Bush is doing a good job. 
Republican Newt Gingrich stated in Time magazine that, “his party has bungled running government so bad that if he was a Democrat he would run on (that record).“  Seen enough?    
The Republicans have controlled Congress for 12 years.  When does all their “crap“ start working for all Americans and not just the rich and powerful who buy their way into government?  We have a nation waiting -- or is love of party more important than love of country? 
                           Pat Cook • Stanton

Trouble for tourism
The old economy is collapsing, and the so-called “hydrogen economy” is still an old-school system and a happy PR story/pipe dream managed by the good ol’ boy network  - uncaring or unaware that when the economy goes - they go with it too.
I would propose that Michigan lead the nation in practical new economy methodologies, based on renewable resources, offshore wind power, renewable/reusable packaging, RoHS electronics, and literally dozens of methods.  
What good is a tourist economy when the backbone -- low wage employees -- isn’t able to afford the fuel, rent or other needs to power the “tourism”?
Will the “tourists” be able to afford to come, having maxed out their buying power during the “bubble years”?
This is already happening, if you’d get out and look, rather than relying on “yes men/women,” the evening news, or the same old-school prognosticators who continue the mantra: “We have plenty - relax, take your soma, everything is fine - this is a brave new world.” To prognosticate a bit myself, we can either direct the change, or the change can come to us, random and undirected.
The cracks are already in the bridge. It’s time for massive, apolitical, and decisive
action.
Steve Glover • via email
 
Stem cell research
Last June, Rep. Andrew Meisner, D-Ferndale proposed legislation allowing embryonic stem cell research, somatic cell nuclear transfer and increasing the sentence for human cloning to 15 years. When Governor Granholm expressed her support for the bill, the debate surrounding stem cell research again came into the forefront of Michigan politics.  Michiganders should follow Meisner and Granholm’s lead by not letting the religious beliefs of individuals hinder the future of science in Michigan and the lives of many with debilitating diseases.
Many are opposed to stem cell research, claiming that it destroys human life by using human embryos as a source for stem cells.  Although this is a perfectly legitimate personal conviction to have, public health policy should not allow itself to be governed by personal religious views.  
Not all scientists agree on the exact moment when an embryo’s life actually begins.  Some say it begins at implantation, others say that it isn’t until the development of a nervous system, but it is generally accepted that the moment is not at conception.    Public policy regarding science must be guided by members of the scientific and civic community; it should not be dominated by members of the religious community. 
This is not to say that religious views are not valid, but they belong in religious and philosophical debate, not in the realm of political decisions that could affect many who may not share these same views.
Using adult stem cells is a good “second best” alternative, but only embryonic stem cells present scientists with the greatest materials for medical discovery.
   Current state law allows researchers to use only adult stem cells or already cultivated stem cell lines from other states with less strict regulations.  These restrictions are both harming patients who could benefit from stem cell research and putting Michigan at a scientific disadvantage compared to the rest of the country.  
The University of Michigan has been a leader in stem cell research despite the restrictions put upon it, but there is a danger that the brightest researchers in this field may decide to leave Michigan for a place more conducive to research if current legislation remains the same.  
This is not just a problem in Michigan, but in all of America’s universities and research facilities.  It would be a true tragedy if America was left out of the global scientific community because government officials allowed religion to guide their policy decisions instead of science.  

Claire Posner • Suttons Bay