X-Message-Number: 23212 Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 02:08:32 -0500 (EST) From: Charles Platt <> Subject: assisted suicide References: <> Randy/cryofan seems so enthusiastic about the "quality of life" in Europe, I have to wonder how much time he has spent there. In my experience, the quality is generally low. Indeed this is why I relocated in a nation where "free market" sometimes actually means what it says. And Randy, "just about every study" is not what I would call a good cite to support an argument. Can we have anecdotal evidence, at least, for the wondrous qualities of Euro life? Regarding assisted suicide, I see this as being primarily a religious issue rather than a political issue. In a country such as the US, where organized religion is quite powerful, naturally there will be opposition to the idea of allowing people to cryopreserve themselves "prematurely." Switzerland is in some respects a libertarian model (government decentralized into cantons; a foreign policy which has been consistently noninterventionist, relying heavily on an armed citizenry to defend the nation). I understand from someone who has lived in Switzerland that assisted suicide does not offend the Swiss, probably because organized religion is not as influential there as it is here. In any case, changing the subject is not a very good way to respond to a fairly clear argument. To reiterate: a political system that protects the rights of minorities by limiting the power of government is generally advantageous to a minority interest such as cryonics. Surely this is clear? Incidentally the euro-enthusiasts should verify whether the storage of cryopatients is legal in [insert the name of your favorite quasi-socialist state here]. I don't know of any european nation that permits it. It has been permitted in the United States by default. In California, where the concept was tested legally, an argument in favor of permitting it was that the nation is based on the principle that rights not specifically assigned to government are reserved by the people. But I have already gone through this case history and the obvious lesson to be learned from it. I still see this whole discussion as being rooted in the unfortunate human desire to have your cake and eat it. Being nurtured and protected by a benificent social system apparently seems very attractive to some people on this list, who seem to imagine that they can get "free" medical care *and* the right to indulge their idiosyncratic ideas about life and death. But saying "take care of me, my way" to a government employee less likely to achieve desired results than if you say the same thing to someone in the private sector who simply wants to make a profit and is not afflicted with the delusion that he has a social duty to protect you from yourself. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=23212