X-Message-Number: 24198
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: Markets and reality
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 11:42:06 +0100

> Message #24195
> From: 
> Subject: Re: Markets and reality
<del>
>
> But issues like regulation and law ARE based on public sentiment.

Quite so, and it is often based on an innaccurate understanding of the
facts. To continue the flat Earth analogy the public could well have caused
laws to be enacted that ships should not sail west of Europe or Africa, or
east of Asia, out of sight of land. The intent would be to save sailors'
lives should they fall over the edge of flatland.

Analogous laws prevent stem cell funding and other life saving projects such
as cryonics.

What is needed more than anything is education, but it seems that once
someone has "taken a position" it becomes a matter of virility or personal
pride to go on arguing the point rather than admit that the position is
wrong. This seems particularly so with people in power -- if a politician
does change his mind he is often castigated in newspapers for "taking a U
turn". People with positions of power put themselves up to be perfect, and
to admit to changing one's mind is to admit that one wasn't perfect before
it was changed.

But still, education must help.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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