Questions for Americans, Part III

(Parts 1, 2)

10. Do we still need funding for [stem cell] research? Would you still support that for embryo stem cells?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Stem cells have been shown to have many therapeutic and research potentials and the research should absolutely continue and grow. Embryonic stem cells have never been and will never be made from babies that are aborted for the purpose of harvesting stem cells. There are plenty of sources of stem cell lines that don't even include fetuses that have started developing within a woman's body.

11. Does evil exist and if it does do we ignore it, do we negotiate with it, do we contain it or do we defeat it?

Um, like some evil force that takes human shape to try to destroy the world? No, wait, that was on Buffy and all sorts of other fantasy media. This question is so loaded with presuppositions it basically collapses under its own weight. Let me reframe it.

"When people do evil things, do we ignore them, negotiate with them, contain them, or defeat them?"

There, that makes sense. People make choices, and people often make choices that harm others. Can we ignore them? Sometimes, if the harm isn't great, it is best to let the harmed party address it. Do we negotiate with it? Sometimes people aren't aware that their choices are harming others and simple negotiation can solve the problem. Do we contain it? If necessary. That's what jails are for. Do we defeat it? If possible, through education, social action, and social pressure. The best way to defeat bad choices is to prevent them.

12. Which existing Supreme Court justice would you not have nominated?

Chief Justice Robert is an accomplished jurist, for sure, but in my opinion he is too young and too beholden to the administration to be taken completely seriously at this point. He is certainly a political appointee who got the job because he agreed with the current administration on every point. His opinions since taking the post have shown that he is not as free from the political biases as a Supreme Court justice should be.