Do research with private funding

To the editor:

This is my opinion of Amendment 2. My wife has diabetes. I have heart disease. And my father-in-law passed away from Lou Gerhig's disease in December 2003. I have not seen anything where stem-cell research would cure theses diseases. If they want to do research on this issue to see where it leads, let them do it with their money, not the taxpayers'. I also believe the ballot issue redefines cloning. If and when it can be proven through private research that stem cells can help, then I will think about letting my tax dollars go toward that research.

PAUL COHEN, Sikeston, Mo.