Impatient Proponents: What's Wrong with the California Stem Cell and Cures Act‪?‬

For some, the traditional and time-honored processes of representative democracy do not move fast enough. Those fearful that same-sex marriages will bring about the decline of our society wish to circumvent the slower judicial and legislative processes involved in deciding the question, and rush instead to alter the Constitutional source. In California, this impatience with process has led to the widespread use of the ballot initiative, whereby concerned citizens eager to promote a righteous cause attempt to bypass the legislature and put new laws directly on the ballot. The ensuing discussion of the issues involved in the proposed law threatens to become less a matter of rational and reasoned public debate than a battle of commercial ads and marketing ploys. Recently enacted California law both allows for and supports stem cell research in the private and public sectors. (1) Despite progress concerning the oversight and regulatory structure of stem cell research, a subsequent bill providing for its public funding failed to pass. (2) Perhaps California legislators decided that funding education, ensuring access to basic health care services, or providing security to their constituents was more important. Frustrated and impatient stem cell proponents reacted by recruiting paid-by-the signature-workers to place "The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act" on the November ballot. If passed, the initiative would amend the stave constitution to guarantee a "right" to conduct and fund stem cell research.