Jim Austin

His previous columns are archived HERE.

JIM AUSTIN

Theocracy, American Style

The High Priest of Government, the Reverend George W. Bush, has reiterated his initial Papal Bull regarding stem cell research. Now that the Advanced Cell Technology Company has announced some preliminary progress in the development of human stem cells, George has announced once again his caveat against such a blasphemy.

It is not "morally correct" says Pastor George.

We have given the government permission to sic their legal beagles upon malefactors. It is immoral to murder anyone, even a Republican, most of the time. Shoplifting, arson, fraud, is wrong and immoral by anyone's standards.

The problem I have is that our President and some of his archbishops are foisting their own personal, right-wing religious morality on the rest of us.

Recently, Brother Ashcroft took time out from trying to keep terrorists from blowing us all to hell. He decided that while nobody was looking he would blackmail doctors in Oregon into ceasing the state-approved policy of euthanasia.

Oregon voters decided a while ago that they didn't want to die in hideous pain, confined to a respirator at the end of their lives. Instead, the majority wanted a choice. The majority wanted doctors to assist them into eternity with a cocktail of drugs that would end their suffering.

Well, Reverend Ashcroft sort of forgot about his promise to the Senate Confirmation Committee. He said that he was going to put aside his religious beliefs where they conflicted with the law of the land and carry out the duties of Attorney General to the benefit of all Americans. Ashcroft sent a memo to the Oregon Medical Association saying that if doctors used any Federally approved drugs to euthanize patients, he would cancel their right to write prescriptions.

In other words he would take away their right to practice medicine if they followed the will of the citizens of Oregon.

This, from a rock-ribbed Republican, whose party's battle cry of "States Rights" echoes down the corridors of power during every election. And how cynical to do this during a time of national crisis.

Now, Bush has again looked to the heavens and kindly interprets the word of God to us heathens. "It is immoral," spaketh he, to carry out this research, which could lead to cures of Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and heart disease.

Why? Because, to George and his flock, a collection of cells called a blastocyst is a human being. God told George this apparently because I couldn't find any reference to blastocyst in the Bible.

I hope the Senate will have the courage to support science and secularism in our government. There is no place for religion in a government that is supposed to represent a pluralistic society. The banning of research with stem cells is a medieval statement. Opponents of in vitro fertilization used exactly the same arguments.

Other, more enlightened societies will support this scientific advancement wholeheartedly. Their citizens will reap the benefits and -- how shocking -- only the rich, who are able to afford a trip to Switzerland or England, will benefit.

In the not too distant future, George himself or one of his family might require some of the fruits of stem cell research. I think this shortsighted enemy of "evil-doers" would be the first one on his private jet to whatever Swiss spa is pedaling the cure. Maybe while he's over there they can teach him to say "nucl-e-ar" instead of "nuc-u-lar."