X-Message-Number: 28056
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 15:16:51 -0600
From: "Anthony ." <>
Subject: what is relevant to cryonics?

Several cryonet members have prompted me to justify my recent posts by
asking if my concerns are relevant to cryonics. The short answer is
yes - every one of these concerns is relevant to cryonics - present
and future - and there isn't much that is NOT relevant to cryonics (&
thus cryonet).

Politics and economics should concern cryonicists because they
organise the way we live, and enact ideas about human relationships
and society. What kind of politico-economic system we should live by
is a major concern, primarily because it will influence our freedoms
and responsibilities. Clearly, only in systems which respect informed
individual choice can cryonics thrive (except in some bizarre and
unlikely dictatorship where cryonics is mandatory). Only in a society
which is environmentally and materially wealthy can cryo-technology
develop and people have the means to take advantage of it.

If we live in a world characterised by massive differences in wealth,
education, and health. We are not only living in an unfair society
which sees it fit to ensure many people are poor, ignorant, and
sickly, we are setting the foundations for future instability that can
harm our freedoms. A society with less poor has less crime, abject
misery, and better health. Less ignorance means better decision making
and an improved economy driven by a skilled and creative workforce.
Better health costs less to care for and improves quality of life.
These benefits, and more, should be obvious. Without them, social
unrest, economic difficulties, and unhappiness are more likely.

The environment should be of equal concern because unless our
resources are carefully managed, our economic base will collapse and
take our comfortable civilsation with it. Environmental degredation
will increase problems of poverty, ill-health, and social unrest.
Degredation will destroy other animal species, natural beauty, and a
sustainable future for following generations - and ourselves if we are
alive again to see it.

It is my assumption that cryonics requires an educated and stable
society so that the safety of those cryosuspended is ensured, and so
that technological research can continue to make advances in
cryobiology (and eventual cryonics revival methods).

In societies torn with conflict, even ordinary graves and
non-threatening institutions are not safe. Freedoms are not protected.
Natural wealth is destroyed. Politics becomes a naked power struggle,
and the winner is not likely to be tolerant, forgiving, or fair. In
such circumstances, cryonics - and many of its members - would not
survive.

We all appreciate cryonics because we want to see life continued in
ourselves and others - we want to be a part of the following
generation. We have less chance of doing that if we have no present
interest in safeguarding the quality of life for the unborn future -
and for our freshly revived selves.

I take the perspectives I do because I believe (though am not
convinced) that they will be the best way to ensure a future will
offer most of us a good life.

Anthony

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