SA Perspectives: Political Science; November 2004; Scientific American Magazine; by Staff Editor; 1 Page(s)

Since this column began three years ago, Scientific American has commented on President George W. Bush's science-related policies--often, though not always, critically. Many readers have complained that we shouldn't mix politics and science. If only it were within our power to keep them separate. Science bears on some of the most important issues of the day, and increasingly, politics bears on how science is done. Although science is not, and should not be, the only factor guiding our choice on November 2, it is up to scientifically literate citizens to take it into account.

Embryonic stem cells. This issue brings out the sharpest disagreements between the candidates. Bush all but banned federal funding for studying these cells and opposes both therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts vows to lift the restrictions and to allow therapeutic cloning with ethical oversight.