You might say that Michigan is in a state of depression these days — psychologically speaking. What's more, it is clear that our elected masters are responsible for a good share of the blame.

The evidence is clear. A new round of polls have found that  more Michiganders than ever before believe our state is headed in the wrong direction and are alarmed at the poor state of the economy. What's more, they don't have any confidence things are going to get much better any time soon.

There are lots of reasons for this. But one big one is the seeming total inability of our elected legislators to do something – anything – competent. As proof, consider how ideological idiocy in Lansing is frustrating progress in a promising area for our economy, not to mention the human race: Stem cell research.

Stem cells are generic cells capable of developing into various kinds of more specialized cells. Stem cells taken from very early human embryos can quickly differentiate into various types of tissue, such as blood, skin or nerves. Virtually every scientist in the country agrees that research using stem cells could produce breakthroughs in treating so far untreatable ailments such as Parkinson's Disease.

Lots of states are vigorously pursuing research into embryonic stem cells. California, for example, recently passed a state ballot proposal allocating $3 billion to stem cell research.

Not surprisingly, this has led lots of very able scientists to move to California to pursue this work.

Wouldn't it make sense for Michigan, with our network of excellent hospitals and research universities, to do the same?

Apparently, that's hard to understand if you are in Lansing. Back in 1978, the Michigan legislature passed a law banning research on live fetuses and embryos. That was understandable then. Fertility clinics were then in their infancy, and nobody had any idea there would be any such thing as stem cell research.

But that law is now being used today to prevent scientists in our state from taking part in some of the most important research in history — work which could also be an economic bonanza.

The justification for the law is that it protects human embryos. Maybe that's the intent, but it just doesn't fit the facts.  Here's something we all need to understand. Nobody is proposing to do this research on embryos from abortion clinics. There is no threat that more abortions will happen so stem cells can be harvested, which is what a lot of anti- abortion folks worry about.

These are stem cells from nearly microscopic embryos from fertility clinics. If they aren't used for potentially life-saving research, they are washed down the drain. According to University of Michigan professor and stem cell biologist Sean Morrison points out, fertility clinics discard unused tiny human embryos all the time.

"It's legal in Michigan to discard human embryos," Professor Morrison, who heads stem cell research in this state, told me, "but it's illegal to use them for medical research to help cure disease."

The cost to all of us is steep. Morrison pointed out that Michigan is losing out on research projects because funders are scared of our laws.

"The state of Illinois is funding research projects there that we would go to jail for trying here in Michigan.

"Our laws are some of the most restrictive in the world, far tighter than federal law and equaled only by South Dakota."

The silliness of the present law is compounded by the negative effect all this is having on our economic future. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), more than $2 billion is invested annually in life sciences research and development in Michigan. The industry produces $4.8 billion in sales and is one of the few rapidly growing sectors in our economy.

Indeed, the MEDC says the State of Michigan has over the last four years invested $178 million in growing the Life Sciences Corridor running from Wayne State University through the U of M and Michigan State University to the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids.

So on the one hand we have a rapidly developing scientific field that is terribly important for the health of every citizen, one in which there is great talent at our research universities and has proven to be one of the few bright spots in our economy.

And on the other hand we are suffering under a disco-era law that prohibits exactly the kind of research that needs to be done.

No wonder people in this state are pessimistic. Various attempts have been made to resolve this Catch 22 in the legislature, most notably by Rep. Andy Meisner (D- Ferndale.)

Given the ideological stranglehold Michigan Right To Life has on the legislature, is it any surprise that his measure has been bottled up in committee for the past two years?

But the idiocy of our present situation is beginning to be felt, even by legislators. Early last month, some House Republicans held a press conference endorsing "an innovative network of umbilical cord banks." Well, they may be starting to get it — but Morrison calls this idea "misguided." Trouble is, umbilical cord blood cells simply cannot replace embryonic stem cells for research. (Last time I looked, the proposal has yet to be introduced. )

Now is the time for sensible legislators from both parties to come together to remove antique and artificial barriers against needed medical research that represents one of the few hopeful parts of the Michigan economy. Even such conservative Republicans as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, (himself a physician) and Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah have described embryonic stem cell research as the "pro-life position."

Even in a city as gripped by partisan deadlock as Lansing, don't we have the right to expect our lawmakers to break free of ideology and find a common-sense way to allow our scientists to do the kind of research that an overwhelming majority of people want and need?

Especially, that is, when that research would also be a shot in the arm for our troubled economy.

If our legislature doesn't step up to the task, it may be time for all of us to move beyond pessimism . . .  to outright anger.