X-Message-Number: 709
From: ditka!ub-gate.UB.com!uunet!onion!loop!keithl (Keith Lofstrom)
Date: Tue,  7 Apr 92 10:21:29 PDT
Subject: Re: cryonics #699 - the move

The move worries me too - however, the folks running the board are the ones
that will suffer the most if this doesn't work.  If I had invested as much
time and effort as they have into Alcor, I figure I would get more of a say
in how things are running - and I might know enough to agree with them.

The government of Arizona may be no more understanding of cryonics than the
goverment of California.  However, the Arizona government is a lot smaller
and poorer - perhaps they will be easier to convince (or bribe, or battle).
Az. $6.8B revenue for 1988, Ca. $73.2B.

The people of Arizona that I've met seem to be a lot more ready to think
independently and to mind their own business than the "average" Californian
(which DEFINITELY excludes present company!!!).  And there are only 3.5 million
to convince, rather than 29 million (in 1989).  

Another factor supporting the board is the cost of doing business in, and the
cost of living, in both places.  Index is 101.1 in the Phoenix area, 127.4 in
the LA area.  Given the starvation wage paid the Alcor staff, I can see where
this would be attractive.

There have been a lot of bad memories associated with Riverside for the folks
involved.  Perhaps a move will lift some spirits.

As a non-Californian, I worry a lot about the government of that state.  They
are trying to withold taxes on me, because I do work for a company with
principal offices in Santa Clara (even though I work and live in Oregon).
They have been known to seize assets across state borders.  They have
fruitcake governors that try to get elected President.  I would rather have
at least one trustworthy facility out of the state.  That way, there is
someplace to go when California declares cryonics illegal.  Or back, as the
case may be.  I am willing to act as midnight driver in either direction ;-)

Down side?  A lot of Alcor stalwarts are located in LA - they will no longer
be able to help out.  Their efforts will be missed, I presume.  I suspect the
differences will be small for folks anywhere else.

Another down side is that things could indeed be worse in Arizona.  The
California and Riverside County governments are hostile to cryonics, and
have harrassed and arrested it's proponents, but at least they let them go.
Perhaps they won't let them go in Arizona - or perhaps they won't arrest them.

If things are worse in Arizona, Alcor can always move back - or someplace else
entirely (Alaska?  Belize?).  I hope that those opposing the move will make
this psychologically possible for the board, by keeping that opposition on a
friendly plane.  From the sounds of things, the board is pretty committed now,
and you do not change a person's mind by calling them an idiot.  At worst,
think of this as a fire drill - someday Alcor may HAVE to move, in a hurry.
This may be good practice.

I would like to see more consideration of this move; perhaps a five-page
cost/benefit summary that covers the issues raised at the board meeting, as 
well as a comparison of Arizona government attitudes to California government
attitudes.  However, as someone in business myself, I know that the best 
decisions are often made on intangibles, by the person with the gumption to
carry out the decision.  Decisions are like fish, and are rarely improved
by aging.  The only real way to test a decision is to try it and see.

In any case, good luck, keep it clean, and may the winners show mercy on the 
losers!

(Figures from the 1991 "Statistical Abstract of the United States").

Keith

Keith Lofstrom            Voice (503)-520-1993
KLIC --- Keith Lofstrom Integrated Circuits --- "Your Ideas in Silicon"
Design Contracting in Bipolar and CMOS - Analog, Digital, and Power ICs

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