Transcending Politics
Fourteen Senators--seven Democrats and seven Republicans--showed there is still a sliver of statesmanship alive in the U.S. Senate ["Power Play," June 6]. Their courage and ability to compromise have not been seen lately in the Senate's hallowed chamber. They will take a lot of heat from extremists, but they saved us for now from the self-destructive "nuclear option" and from those who want to ruthlessly dominate our lives. Reason and preservation of minority rights triumphed over unthinking, blind partisanship. It was a setback for those possessing an arrogance-of-power mind-set.
PAUL L. WHITELEY SR.
Louisville, Ky.
Thank you for raising the Controversial issue of stem cell research ["Reigniting the Stem Cell Debate"]. In contrast to embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have already been used in the United States and other countries to successfully treat patients with over 70 diseases and conditions. It's time our nation's medical researchers and elected politicians shifted their focus away from unproven theoretical approaches that require destruction of life and more vigorously invested their time, talents, and funds in techniques that have demonstrated clinical success and hold a true promise without the ethical issues.
ANTHONY ZYCH
Centreville, Va.
The human embryo as well as those in most mammals consists of a small group of living cells with the potential of eventually developing into a living organism. Since stem cells will be used to replace diseased tissues with healthy ones, these cells coming from embryos will live on instead of dying in the process of disposal. One would hope that, in light of this knowledge, we would favor the use of stem cell research to create better tools for doctors to use in their attempts to cure patients. We are at the crossroads where the human race will live not only longer but healthier. Many of our soldiers returning from the Middle East without arms or legs may be able to acquire new limbs by this stem cell regeneration process.
ALLAN JAY SILVER, M.D.
Albany, Ore.
Safety Net
I am amazed that you seem surprised at the amount of federal pork created by the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security ["Security at Any Price?" May 30]. While the war on terrorism is the first example of largess by the federal government in the 21st century, there are examples from the previous century where our government created a war and then turned on the money spigot. Some of the prime examples are the Cold War, the war on poverty, and the war on drugs. Each in its own way consumed more of our hard-earned dollars and, in the case of the latter two examples, did not have much to show for it. We should have expected no less from the war on terrorism.
ROBERT ROSE
Apex, N.C.
Prior to 9/11, security at all transportation points was considered acceptable. We were proved wrong. What was the congressional solution? Establishing more bureaucracies like Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration and, most recently, appointing a new director of national intelligence. Has anyone been held accountable or made our intelligence agencies more efficient? Have we made our citizens more secure? Instead, we've increased our intelligence bureaucracy and taxpayers' burden.
JACK A. MILAVIC
Melbourne, Fla.
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