If fundies value life, do they oppose the "patenting of life" by corpses?

[arendt]

One of the big issues in science is the patenting of pieces of DNA,
proteins etc - for their medical value. As more and more patents
are issued, it becomes harder to do science, since you either
can't access proprietary data, or you are forced to pay for using
data.

The whole thing is becoming pay-per-view science.

Back about six years ago, Clinton and Blair agreed not to patent
DNA, so that the results of the human genome project (the code
of life) would not be owned by anyone. But it was only a gentleman's
agreement, without the force of law.

In the intervening time, they have been patenting the crap out of
cancer cell lines, and any kind of protein or DNA that they can
vaguely show a medical use for.

----

So, fundies oppose the "destruction of life", where are they when
life becomes the private property of a corporation - literally a slave
to be bought and sold.

Anyone know if the fundies take any action?

If not, they are fucking hypocrites - no surpise - and we have a
talking point against them.

If they do oppose it, we ought to play it up and see how their
corporate funders react.

arendt

P.S. This is a Mrs. Arendt idea! Props to the wife.

[bryant69]

1. I think you have to twist their point of view pretty far

to make them hypocrites for not opposing this.

When they say "Culture of life" it's assumed that they mean "Human life." They've never given a damn about destroying animal life or plant life. I can only assume they wouldn't care that much about these types of lives either.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[arendt]

3. Do you really appreciate the issue?

The fundies are screaming against science.

Either they have no problem with corporate ownership of life,
via the very same biological science they fervently oppose
(in which case they are hypocrites, I don't see how you can
avoid that conclusion)...

Or they have a problem with it, which we can use as a wedge
issue between fundies and corporations.

Either way its a win for us.

I do not understand your minimization.

It doesn't have to be perfectly rational - its a talking point, not
a legal brief. This is the kind of meme that can jam their brains.

arendt

[AndyA]

2. They're only concerned about NEW life

They don't give a shit about people who are ALREADY LIVING A LIFE.

One only has to look at Iraq to see how they value life. One only has to see how many were executed under George Bush's Texas governorship. He wants to protect the newly fertilized egg and the fetus, but he doesn't give a rat's ass about life that's already established.

As a Christian, I'm sure he can show you where it says this is OK in The Bible. :eyes:

[arendt]

4. Watch the wedge...

Pregnant woman discovers problem with pregnancy.
She wants to have a DNA test.

Either, the cost of the test is covered by insurance or not.

Suppose its not covered because its too expensive.

Then the patenting of life has interfered with NEW life.

If it is covered, then the fundies are hypocrites re bio science.
And, we are collectively paying premiums to corporations
for access to basic biological sequence information, largely
provided by tax payer funded universities.

There is so much here we can use.

I understand the immediate recourse to sneering, they don't
care.

I know they don't care. But we can still club them with this issue.

arendt

[arendt]

5. mid-day kick! n/t