X-Message-Number: 1420 From: Subject: CNICS Fellow Travelers Date: Thu, 10 Dec 92 15:14:57 PST To: Cryonet From: Carlos Mondragon In the midst of the thread about environmentalists, Charles Platt wrote the following: >Brian is absolutely correct that the libertarian-objectivist- >technophile constituency has been the most fertile place to >find cryo converts. However, if cryonics is to find wider >acceptance, the lib-obj-tech fraternity isn't going to be >sufficient. I am therefore interested in finding new links >between cryonics and larger groups which are more socially >acceptable. I think it is no accident or coincidence that over 80% of Alcor suspension members identify themselves as libertarians of one stripe or another. And I suspect the the percentage is similar among the other organizations as well. This is because a value system that truly values individual human lives, one's own in particular, is also very likely to value freedom. Much credit is due to Rand for her succinct explanation of how these values relate (though I am not an Objectivist). Hopefully, this correlation of life and freedom as primary values may well limit the growth of cryonics to libertarians. (Did he say HOPEFULLY?). Yes, HOPEFULLY. In the first place, there are at least two million people in the U.S. alone who are freedom-oriented in the libertarian sense. If only *one percent* of these signed-up over the next 13 years, they alone would match Alcor's historical growth rate. If we succeed in accelerating the growth rate, that just means getting them sooner, then going after the other 99%. As for non-libertarians, i. e. statists/collectivists, I'd rather that they go happily to their graves. In fact, nothing would give me greater satisfaction than if they all dropped dead tomorrow! These are the people who hold a gun to my head and steal a third of what I earn, thus effectively enslaving me 120 days out of the year. These are the people who hold a gun to my head so they can tell me what I can and cannot ingest. These are the people who hold a gun to my head so they can interfere in mutual and voluntary (economic and personal) interactions I wish to have with others. No, I don't think I owe it to these people to "educate" them so they will stop pointing their guns at me. THESE ARE THE LAST PEOPLE ON EARTH I WANT TO BRING INTO THE FUTURE WITH ME! One very appealing aspect of cryonics has always been that "If you can't beat them, outlive them". I hold on to the optimistic projection that the historical trend of greater wealth, technology, and freedom in the hands of individuals will continue. On the darker side, think about this: do you want your cryonics organization under the control of persons who, when they revive you, will have no hesitation about "curing" you of problems you don't think you have? When Alcor had only 30 members or so, we often discussed that terrible possibility -- ironic that as growth has increased the risk, that's never mentioned any more. CM Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1420