Schwarzenegger and Proposition 71

On November 2, Proposition 71 will be on the ballot in California. If passed, it would provide researchers $3 billion over the next ten years for stem cell research. While watching World New Tonight on ABC this evening, I learned that his proposition was recently endorsed by California’s Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This breaks from the California Republican Party’s official stance which is against Proposition 71.

I think it is noble that Schwarzenegger would break party lines to fight for something he believes in. Politics get caught up too much nowadays in the development of science and technology; Schwarzenegger was able to separate politics from technology, a practice which most other politicians have yet to participate in. Most politicians support or don’t support the development of certain new technologies based on one question: Will supporting this technology help to get me re-elected? I think that this is absurd and that more politicians should follow Schwarzenegger’s example and do what they feel is morally right, not what will supposedly help them on Election Day. Staying true to yourself is undoubtedly more important in the long run than how many terms in public office you serve.

Read an article about Schwarzenegger’s endorsement here.