X-Message-Number: 1696
Date: 30 Jan 93 03:10:13 EST
From: MICHAEL RISKIN <>
Subject: CRYONICS: Reply to Mike Darwin
My observation that the cryonet email was becoming more content
oriented and less sic' em style oriented was premature. However, the
issue of doing background checks on officers, directors , and employees
(whether Mike simply meant to be sarcastic or to " get even") is a valid
issue.
Any organization desiring success, must be very careful in the
acquisition of assets and resources, to be sure there are not unknown
liabilities or encumbrances. This is especially true when it comes
to human "acquistions".
Included in normal background checks for sensitive or influential
positions are of course validation of all claimed education, licenses,
etc. etc., and the taking of psychological, legal, and personal
inventories among other "pre-acquisition" endeavors. And this activity
continues during the individuals tenure to be sure nothing adverse
materializes.
Some of you may recall, that at a board meeting, I recommended that
all board members be required to take and pass a basic examination
relating to Alcor organizational structure including bylaws and
resolutions and a representative panel of questions to determine
technical competence. This suggestion was essentially laughed off.
I still believe it is necessary, along with the background checks
referred to earlier.
That takes money.
The officers and, employees, all paid (or not paid at all)
absurdly below market value , are expected to get their compensation
from a "job well done for a good cause ego gratification."
That is a hopelessly naive expectation.
So, we all applaud the underpaid faithful, and pat each other on the
back for getting such good performance for so little pay; and we look the
other way when the job is not done quite right; and dont fully examine the
motives or capability of the job applicant. After all , what right do
we have to do this? Doesn't willingness to be underpaid make up for other
undesireable qualitities? Shouldn't a "little psychopathy or emotional
instability or unsavory(even to radical libertarians) personal habits
be overlooked?
Of course not. Now, before everyone has a stroke, there are surely
many Alcor persons executing their jobs admirably. But the very nature of
what it is we are so proud of (cheap help) carries hidden liabilities.
I argued several times, at board meetings and in Cryonics for a dues
structure sufficient to carry paid personnel at competitive rates.
This was also rejected out of hand. One of the board members replied
"that is not the way we do things, HERE."
Well, you ultimately get what you pay for, the old saw goes.
Perhaps that is what Mike Darwin was in part referring to when he
hypothesized that the very nature of cryonics brought the slime to the
top.
In fact , "profit motive" is an important motivation for cryonic
organizations other than Alcor. Equity, proprietorship, personal gains
are among the motivators and well it should be. After all the ultimate
personal gain is immortality... a little extra money doesn't hurt that
cause.
And in fact, the very persons who said "we dont do it that way
at Alcor" (re: generating sufficient revenues for a well paid staff)
appear to be significantly profit oriented in their own "immortality"
ventures. These very same persons who argued against a reevaluation of
Alcor revenue/expense structure are now the victims of their own rigidity
and (here comes the dirty word) disguised altruism promoted as good
business practice.
Fair pay for work performed is the surest way to eliminate politics
from decision making. Our own government representatives up to the
president are of course underpaid and find their own "compensations".
Look what we ended up with in the land of the free and the home of the
brave.
I have made a crushing mistake in my involvement with cryonics and
Alcor in particular. I signed up 10 years ago, and proceeded to passively
allow my future to be determined by others. Sure, I read the magazine,
talked to my friends, proudly displayed my bracelet. Its not even one
year since I became more actively involved.I continued to naively believe
that "you" were looking out for me. I slowly became more vocal,
volunteered for a few undone necessary jobs, talked to a diverse
group of members, got on the "net" in December 92 , had many kb's of
old net mail downloaded, and finally last week , received all 700kb
of the "politics" thread.
My illusion has become disillusionment. Disillusionment is an ugly
word for many people as in "the honeymoon is over and disillusionment has
set in." And that leads to depression, despair, "acting out", profound
sense of loss,panic, withdrawal and self destructive behavior. But not for
me. Disillusionment is simply another way of saying
"I see my reality and it differs from my expectations" and it is in this
reality where simultaneously with the pain, a real hope for a real future
with real values lies.
I am sufficiently self esteemed (arrogant?) to believe that had I been
involved earlier on, I would have made a difference, in that much of the
poison of the politics could have been avoided. And my financial, common
sense and psychological skills would have been a positive influence.
While many are fretting or pontificating about recent or anticipated
cataclysmic problems , there is much good to reflect on. Cryonics has
survived Nelson, legal attacks and other crisis others are more aware of
than I, and we continue to suspend our members, provide for our patients,
and stay financially intact, while attracting a growing base of support.
$288 a year for immortality seems pretty cheap. Just as the Alcor
salary structure leads to undesireable results, the current fee structure
lends itself to a "you cant really complain, look at how little you are
paying, be grateful attitude." This keeps political and welfare state
control over the membership. I roughly calculate that another $100k a year
paid as salaries and benefits would start to approximate competitive
compensation. Thats less than $1.00 /day for the current membership base.
And it buys us the right to determine who is suitable to run Alcor and
perform the necessary job functions. This appeal is to you the members,
to insist upon the right to pay a higher fee for the privilege of
accountability. Almost everyone I know can afford it and it is possible
and reasonable to make special allowances for grandfathering hardship
cicumstances .
In my disillusion ,much of which I owe to such people as Mike Darwin
to whom this response was made, I find renewed vigor and hope.
THINK LIFE!
The surest way to commit Alcorcide is through persisting attacks upon
the integrity of the organization while failing to describe what is
healthy. To abandon Alcor is to join the other mass of humanity on the
planet that says when you're dead , you're dead and cryonic suspension
is no better than a cemetary plot. I am excited with the possibilities
inherent in the new directions open to us, including facing viable
competition, the finding of a new and better home, the rethinking
of taken for granted positions, and the reformation of severed alliances.
I don't know what will be in 2003, my 20th anniversary as a cryonicist
but I wont be looking back at a passive involvement for 10 years as I
previously have.
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