[extropy-chat] the (scary) future of pro-death bioethicsandlegislation

[Spike]

> Amara Graps
> 
> 
> Spike:
> >My notion is that we must not look to government to help us in any
> >of our transhumanist goals.  Life extentionists are inherently at
> >cross purposes with government in this.
> 
> I appreciate your perspective, and I know it's important for you. It
> doesn't work for me, though...

Amara, you have a most gentle and kind way of expressing
yourself, most worthy of emulation.  {8-]


> I'm on outside, dealing with the
> fallout of the present US administration in my every day life...
...
>Therefore, my focus in the transhumanist
> realm is on local people.
> 
> Amara

Ja, I agree with all of this.  My notion is much more narrowly
focused however: governments will be no help at all in the pursuit 
of life extension.  Good chance they will be rather a hindrance,
for governments pay out pensions to the elderly, and may perceive 
life extension as a threat to stability.  This is only the third 
biggest problem, however.  

The second biggest problem is that industry, with its collective
money and science behind it, is not particularly interested in
life extension.  Industry is very interested in *youth* extension,
giving us viagra and baldness treatments, along with a seemly
halfhearted scattering of cures for some diseases.  But overall, 
I see practically nothing from industry for true life extension.

But the biggest problem is that very few people are interested
in life extension.  As with industry, plenty of people will go
for youth extension.  Every day we see people vainly tossing 
their coins into the fountain of youth, seemingly none of it
aimed at living longer.  I suppose living better now is a form
of life extension.  But I want more.

spike