Is compromise possible?
Compromise between those who hold that deriving stem cells is killing babies and those who hold that benefits to already born persons outweigh the brief existences of early embryos is somewhat analogous to the ‘peace process’ in the Middle East. Both sides have a passionate sense of right and will adhere to fundamental beliefs. Before Bush, there were several attempts at compromise, the most notable of which was a ruling by the DHHS Legal Department that the government could fund research on stem cells that had already been derived elsewhere, but could not fund the derivation itself. This ruling was an attempt to respect the beliefs of those who thought that derivation was killing human beings, while simultaneously respecting the fervent desires of many patient groups that research proceed. Conservatives regarded this compromise as hypocritical, allowing the private sector to do the dirty work, while the government funded research on an increasing supply of murdered babies. On 9 August
