Theoretical question: genetic engineering & christo-fascist mindset

[jokerman93]

Science Daily is a great little science news roundup site that I've read loyally since 2000. (I recommend it!) This morning I came upon this interesting article about the coming ethical debate on genetic engineering.

Title:
Revising Humans: U.S. Constitution Provides Framework For Debate On Genetic Engineering Of Human Beings

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223145533.htm

Personally, for many years I've been alarmed and disgusted by the smug triumphalism of the extreme Christian right. Since I have no use for organized religion, I see the rise of the neo-christian movement over the last two decades as nothing other than a new state religion intentionally engineered to manipulate and harness the political momentum of the ignorant masses in a move to solidify political power in Washington. The architects of this movement have been shrill and persistent in their selective morality regarding reproductive rights, terminal care, and stem cell research - all in the name of a culture of life.

I wonder however, when the opportunity comes for genetically engineering higher functioning, "superior" humans, whether this same group wouldn't be seduced by the possibility of developing a strong "Army for Christ" using this new technology. The science fiction vision of a population of uber-human christo-fascists strikes me as serious "stroke material" for the christers who openly dream of world domination.

Yeah. It's a Star Trek fantasy now, but probably not for long. Would this group find some disingenuous way to encourage genetic engineering only because there might be a perceived opportunity for enhancing their hold on power, or would they take a similar approach to their position on stem cell research?

Since they're willing to change or reject the constitution whole cloth, I just wonder what speculations DUers have about how such a public debate might shape up in the years to come.

Hope I'm being clear here and not rambling too much. (It's still early!)

:donut:

[SteppingRazor]

1. Actually, fundies would be very, very against this.

It's creating life by means other than one woman, one man having sex without any means of protection.

[ret5hd]

2. i think you might be overly discounting the likelyhood...

of the christo-fascists recognizing this as a tool to make their "superiority" as physically true as they bepieve their moral "superiority" to be.

(which, i believe, is the original poster's point)

[SteppingRazor]

4. I have a hard time believing...

That they'd embrace these sorts of scientific methods for human improvement. It'd be a direct affront to God's creation.
And believe me, I know my Christo-fascists. Hell, I lived in the shadow of Focus on the Family headquarters for a good four years. Can't talk more about that though -- flashbacks and whatnot. You understand.

[Steel City Slim]

3. I Don't Know

They might be drawn into something like that. When they eat, they use forks not their fingers. They could see it as a tool and convince themselves that using genetic engineering to create an "Army for Christ" is justifiable.

[oscar111]

5. all nations will soon be making soldiers to order

from a scifi perspective......

the others soon will, so we will have to do this, whethter or not the fundies here promote it.

Althought robotic soldiers may happen sooner, rendering supersoldier flesh inferior.

still, other natios will do gene splicing in civilian areas, making for better brains for instance. So splicin will happen globally and competition will make us go along too. Unless competition is replaced by cooperation among all nations.

OK, scifi brain turnoff time. Back to real life. Jokerman98, what's for lunch? Pizza? Ice box pie? yummm

[SteppingRazor]

7. From a very heavily sci-fi perspective...

Heck, we'll also have teleporters to send men -- I mean, robots -- into battle, armed with photon torpedos and phasers.

Excuse the sarcasm, but I can give you plenty of good reasons why robots won't replace soldiers anytime soon. For example, robots are expensive and more most be built to replace them. There's also energy costs to consider. Human lives are much cheaper (from a purely cold-hearted logistical point of view).

Also, robots are incapable of higher decision making. And in a life-or-death situation like combat, that makes them a bad choice.


But I do like teleporters though. We should really get to work on that. Of course, it's about as likely as the global cooperation you left your post so hopefully with, but I digress...

[oscar111]

8. Stepping, robots ARE cheaper: also, calmer decisions are better decisiions

in battle, robots will make logical decisions, not like humans making stressed burnt-out decisions . cf studies on stressed humans , sleep deprived humans, and decisions. Can you say Mr Spock?

robots also are cheaper . eg, welder robots in detroit.

robot soldier injured? No hospital plant to germany. no hospital, no army docs to pay .

robot killed? no funeral. replacement cost sure, but the same for human replacements.

robots fight better === suicide missions daily. Go into hi risk dark apartments. Some small ones have helicopter rotors for reaching windows no human can.

robots are cheaper in so many ways... no pension. No eighteen years of "social costs" hidden in them as are hidden in every human soldier. Social costs like food, school. ps a social cost is a usually unseen cost that does not have to be paid by the master of the situation. eg, factory owner pollutes, and the lung cancer costs are paid by neighbors of factory... such are called social costs.

[Pockets]

6. Of course they would pretend to be against it but...

If there were a little pill that would cure people of gayness, liberalism, independence, happiness, etc., they certainly would approve of it, even if it worked on a genetic level.

[jokerman93]

9. I suppose it would be possible

I suppose it would be possible to pretend to fight it all the while financing think tanks to develop plans to harness the technology. We might very well see the beginnings of a new high-tech tribalism.