STAN'S BLOGS

[My response to street talk that illegal Mexican immigrants are a big drain on our generousity] Mexican immigrant households (legal and illegal) actually make-up a smaller portion of the total welfare hand-outs but have recently been receiving a larger portion of "bad press." Ask the average U.S. citizen what one of the biggest problems being faced today concerning illegal Mexican immigration and you will find "the impact on social welfare programs" near the top of the list, right up there with "terrorist border crossings" and "jobs losses to illegals." Total Number of U.S. households (2004 Census): 111,000,000 U.S. Census Bureau (PDF) : In 2003, the number of households in the United States reached 111 million. Mexican immigrant households (legal and illegal): 5,061,600 Center for Immigration Studies : 15 percent of U.S. native households on a welfare program vs. 25 percent headed by illegal Mexican immigrants. U.S. native households on a welfar

This CNN headline I found today, House passes embryonic stem cell bill , raises an interesting "hold-on-a-minute!" moment for me. Beyond the arguments regarding "the sanctity of life" and "what we can do for our loved ones afflicted with crippling diseases," we might consider the ramifications of this research, if it is successful and then implemented, in changing the course of the law of natural selection in human development. Consider this: Changing the course of or entirely correcting a hereditary disease, e.g. Alzheimer's or Parkinson, in a given individual would still leave the genetic deposition for transferring that disease intact. Thus, allowing the physical or mental defect to reappear in future generations of the affected family line. Natural selection attempts to weed-out these genetic defects, in order to build a stronger and healthier strain of human, a stronger and healthier society. Messing with Mother Nature is risky business. We have a