Socialism, weakened security, increased threats, nonsense. In a culture all too often driven by fear, effort is required to sift through the bullshit in search of the truth. The election of this nation's first African-American president is not only a testament to the racial progress this country has achieved, but also an overwhelming public endorsement of scientific advancement.
John McCain's concession speech sent a powerful message to all who were willing to listen. The Arizona senator was supportive of Barack Obama and asked his followers to join him in bringing this country together. Even though every citizen may not have been happy with last Tuesday's result, there is good reason for any rational citizen to be optimistic about one aspect of Obama's election - the United States will finally be free from the ideological bias that has handcuffed most scientific research for the last eight years.
Bioethical issues have long dominated partisan politics on Capitol Hill. Conservative politicians have clung to irrational scientific beliefs in order to please fundamentalist Christian followers that make up their support base. Three out of 10 candidates at the republican presidential Primary debate actually raised their hands when asked how many did not believe in evolution. The hairs on my neck stood up at that moment.
How much longer will the ideologically biased views of a Christian minority influence the politics of this country? If the results from last Tuesday's ballots - aside from the presidental election - are any indication, my worries may be alleviated sooner than I believed.
Several states passed progressive bills supporting embryonic stem cell research last week. Michigan residents passed Proposal 2, which will loosen restrictions on research by allowing scientists to use excess embryos from in-vitro fertility clinics. Colorado defeated the Personhood Amendment,"" which would have defined all embryos as human beings from the moment of conception. The 10 states that fund embryonic stem-cell research will surely benefit from the next administration.
Obama's first measures after becoming president will undoubtedly include an executive order to free up federal funds for stem-cell research. Universities across the country, including UW-Madison, will receive much-needed federal funding that will hopefully accelerate future discoveries in the biomedical world.
Dr. Clayton Smith, a stem-cell researcher who moved to Canada due to U.S. restrictions five years ago, expressed his optimism in an interview with The Vancouver Sun. ""Watching the election last night was a singular event, like watching the Berlin Wall fall,"" Smith said. ""It was a dark time for many researchers in the U.S. the last eight years. There are incredible opportunities in Canada, and now the U.S. will have a more forward-thinking administration.""
Stem-cell research is not the only field that will benefit from Obama's election. A new climate-change initiative will seek to reduce total emissions to 80 percent of 1990 levels by the year 2050, and $150 billion dollars will be invested in developing alternative energy sources over the next 10 years. Obama also proposed protection for whistleblowers ""who report on any government attempts to distort or ignore scientific research"" in a letter to the leaders of the National Academies last month.
The promises set forth by the Obama administration may not have been fulfilled quite yet, nor will they immediately take effect in January 2009, but their progressive message breathes new life into the American science community. The promotion of the White House science advisor to assistant cabinet-level status and the appointment of a new chief technology advisor to the White House will certainly aid in facilitating open-minded debate.
It's time for all of us to rise above the whirlwind of negativity and realize the future became brighter for scientific advancement when Obama secured 270 electoral votes on Nov. 4.
Tom Hart is a senior majoring in political science and history. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
