I mean, wouldn't that be great? Ice cream for everybody whenever they want! Nobody has to mow the lawn any more! And don't even get me started about healthcare. What's the word I want? Oh, yeah: Paradise! (Throw in a couple of virgins and we might even get some Islamic terrorists on board our little gravy train...)
But wait. What is that nagging doubt in the back of my mind? Hmm. Seems Connecticut would like to impose its fiscal-responsibility prudery on the Catholic Church. (Here's a link to the text of the bill.) Now I don't condone embezzling funds (the cloud under which this bill is being considered), but it seems the government never saw a problem it wouldn't like to take a crack at solving with coercive means. But since when was government so wonderfully good at making sure funds don't get misappropriated? I'd say it's ironic at the least.
But wait, there's more. Our Dear Leader--ahem, President--just signed an executive order reversing Bush's ban on stem-cell research. (Here's the text.) No, that's not right. Let me try again: President Obama signed an executive order reversing Bush's ban on embryonic stem-cell research. Nope, still not right. Once more: the President signed an executive order reversing Bush's ban on the use of Federal tax dollars to fund embryonic stem-cell research. I especially like this statement:
"We view what happened with stem cell research in the last administration as one manifestation of failure to think carefully about how federal support of science and the use of scientific advice occurs," Varmus said. "This is consistent with the president's determination to use sound scientific practice, responsible practice of science and evidence, instead of dogma in developing federal policy."
But 'thinking carefully' about supporting science is precisely what the last administration did (deciding in a cautious way not to support a particular kind of research because of ethical concerns), and what the new one is determined not to do (by blindly supporting any and all research that someone thinks is "promising").
And now what passes for "responsible" governance with President Obama is a statement about cloning:
"We cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction," Obama said. "It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."
What, I wonder, would Obama see cloning as being useful for? Is this a verbal slip, or does he really mean to prevent it only in cases of human reproduction and not in, say, cases of growing organs for transplant? Hmm?
Of course there are several stories here, not least is the clear ascendancy of government "pragmatism" over against "dogma" and in place of independent institutions' self-governance, which is infuriating on its own. But add to that the implication in both stories that unless the government is doing something (managing church governance or funding an up-and-coming research field), it doesn't count, it isn't being done. But there are so many other ways to do things--the government isn't the only agent capable of action in the world! So much for the quintessentially American "I can do it myself" attitude!
Can't we stand on our own two feet? Can't we blow our noses without government assistance? The last time I heard, the government still needed us to go to work every day so it would have money to spend for us. Sometimes that makes sense, but at a certain point, it gets downright insulting. Am I not free?
So just keep imagining that paradise where the government does everything for you. A generation ago we knew it by the name of Communism. So just keep imagining a world where the government does everything for you...but just remember that you'll be in fetters of iron.
UPDATE:
At least one Connecticut state senator is speaking boldly about bill 1098. Senator McLachlan's view is that "The real purpose of this bill is payback to the bishops and pastors of the Roman Catholic Church in Connecticut for opposing gay marriage." Now that's a mouthful.
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