The Open Boat

'The package deal' is a term Ayn Rand coined to imply that something in the discussion not mentioned is taken for granted and has unquestionable validity. The participant, listener, or reader is tricked into accepting this taken-for-granted concept unaware.

For example, there has been much debate about whether genetic engineering and stem cell research is 'moral' or not with the supposition of its vast benefit to human health implied. In light of the understanding of environmental medicine, gene manipulation will never improve human health, but it does have unlimited potential for enslaving people to corporations for their survival --- in a bizarre way --- and for continuing huge profits for the conglomerates.

The religious and ethics debate over genetic engineering and stem cell research plays into emotionally charged issues for everyone from fundamentalists to agnostics and so is very effective at diverting the public's attention from the real critical issues like --- efficacy, safety, and potential for abuse. The religious issue is a "red herring".

The heated debate over religion and ethics is a sophisticated diversion technique that gives the public the impression that differing points of view about genetic engineering are being presented. It looks like a fair and balanced discussion is going on. It serves to gloss over the wrong presumption that it will add to the quality of life and health ---- the advertised benefits to mankind become an accepted fact in the public mind.