Stem Cell Funding And Electoral Polarization

Peter Dizikes argues that stem cell research will polarize the national electoral map, the idea being that by funding embryonic stem cell research, states will attract more scientists and thus more Democratic voters. In state-level fights over whether to supply funding, Republicans are fighting off a growing trend of national support for embryonic stem cell research, and apparently an invasion of Democratic-voting scientists. Dizikes says stem-cell funding creates biotech jobs, and more employment springs up around the biotech industry through a multiplier effect. One question this raises: can and will Democrats tie stem cell funding to the economy, and, in a recession, do jobs trump even metaphysics?