Free Press – February 23, 2006

Arthur Kaplan, Richland Township Litigious Holding Co, Glass Booth Hussein

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Today’s column is about Dr. Arthur Kaplan’s lecture about bio-ethics and whether legislators, governors and the president have the sense to let the scientists determine what is possible. But first, I have an opinion about three subjects.

You’ve noted that the state legislature remains stymied over property tax reform. In my opinion, that’s just plain bunk. The state senate and the state assembly have introduced similar property tax reform measures but are unwilling to compromise on one final bill. The real reason why there’s no movement is because both houses are Republican and the governor is a Democrat. The GOP is loath to give Ed Rendell a campaign victory in this gubernatorial election year.

Does the electorate suffer as a result? Of course. How can voters tell legislators that they’re unhappy? Call for term limits or vote them out of office...or both.

Second, Steve Wartenberg wrote a story in the Morning Call that called attention to the litigious nature of Richland Township. For 50 years, elected and appointed officials have been merrily suing each other. Residents join in as well. Unfortunately, Wartenberg did not provide the answer…why does this happen? And he did not suggest a solution.

Here goes.

Richland’s litigious nature is caused by the climate. You don’t see anger and hostility among residents and officials of Quakertown, Richlandtown, Trumbauersville, Haycock, or Milford…only Richland Township. It’s like the fog that surrounds Richland on a weather changing day. Alas, it can’t be fixed…although some day soon, I’ll write about my idea for a municipal holding company. Stay tuned.

And now to Art Kaplan.

He’s the leader of the University of Pennsylvania’s department of bio-ethics and is internationally known. I heard him give a talk about doctor-assisted suicide, stem cell research, vaccinations for cervical cancer, and longevity.

“Oregon is the only state that permits doctor assisted suicide,” Kaplan began. “You see current news stories about legislative battles in California, Michigan, and Vermont. How well America manages dying will determine the demand for it [doctor assisted suicide]. The U. S. Supreme Court has ruled that this is a states right issue. But the court is becoming more conservative. Will the [justice] Alito appointment make a difference,” Kaplan asked? “We’ll see.”

Kaplan turned to another touchy subject. “There are two pharmaceutical companies who’ve successfully developed a vaccine for cervical cancer,” he continued. “Over 5,000 women die of cervical cancer each year.” Kaplan told us that the vaccine would prevent a form of cervical cancer that’s caused by venereal infected partners.

“Should America make the vaccine mandatory for 11 to 13 year old, pre-pubescent girls,” Kaplan asked? “Will policy makers object to this claiming that the vaccine gives inadvertent permission for sexual promiscuity [to girls]? And if the U. S. says no, what message does that send to the rest of the world…the vaccine is safe, but we won’t use it here?”

On a different subject, Kaplan is a proponent of stem cell research and believes the government should stay out of scientific research. “There are 400,000 frozen embryos in fertility clinics waiting for destruction,” he said. Kaplan advocates using them instead. “Stem cell research is not a question of “If” but “Where,” Kaplan added. If the federal government continues to restrict stem cell research, China, India, Great Britain, South Korea, and Sweden will make the scientific break through and pass America by. Those societies will reap the benefit at our expense.

Last, Kaplan addressed longevity. “What does one generation owe another,” he asked? “Should medicine back off from extending life? It should not be a question of life extension versus quality of life. We should focus our research not on “Longer,” but on “Better.”

Does that increase the strain upon Social Security? “We shouldn’t ration by age,” Kaplan answered. “Policy makers should raise the social security age to 70 or higher,” he said.

Someone in the audience quipped, “We should not pay for grandpa’s mid night frolics and his need for (and cost of) Viagra,” drawing a laugh.

“What’s the social contract,” Kaplan replied with his own question.

You should have been there…it was fascinating…and obviously controversial.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith

PS. Are you frustrated with the trial of Saddam Hussein? The former Iraqi dictator has stymied his trial with outbursts. I wonder why the trial judge doesn’t order a sound proof glass cage for this villain. The trial would proceed with no one hearing his shouts of protest except himself.