X-Message-Number: 3043
Subject: CRYONICS: Money for research
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 1994 08:58:59 -0400
From: "Perry E. Metzger" <>


> From:  (Charles Platt)

> But suppose there are perhaps 500 hard- core cryonicists in the
> world. Suppose they agree that reversible brain cryopreservation is
> the most desirable goal in cryonics, since it would GREATLY increase
> our chances for survival. If each cryonicist puts in $10,000, that's
> all it takes to reach Wakfer's figure.
>  
> Of course, his figure may be too low, and we may quibble about who
> is qualified to do the research, and what precise path it should
> take, and so on, and so forth. My point, however, is the principle
> which is involved here. Do we, as a community, believe that research
> on reversible brain cryopreservation should be our highest priority?

Well, I believe it is *a* high priority -- a very high priority. I'm
not sure, however, that simply throwing money at the problem is good
enough. I believe you are being too easily dismissive over the
question of whether the figure is good, and whether the money could
actually be successfully spent in a manner that would achieve the
desired result. I'm pretty well to do at this point, but I'm spending
most of my own money these days on business pursuits, which I believe
will provide me with essential capital to survive in the future,
especially given the turmoil that the world may face if the
U.S. undergoes an economic crisis. If I am going to spend $10,000 on
something I want to know that I am going to get concrete and good
results, and very speculative "Manhattan project" type efforts aren't
the sort of thing that can give that kind of assurance.

On the other hand, I'll state right now that I'm willing to donate $20
per month on a credit card pledge to a 501(c)3 cryonics research
organization, at least for a year or two. For me, the money won't be
noticed so I can afford to be a bit cavalier about how I spend it. If
you can assemble your 500 cryonicists, Charles, to donate on a pledge
basis rather than handing over huge chunks of their savings all at
once, you will have a guaranteed income for a research group of
$120,000 per year. This is enough for several salaries and a bit of
equipment. It might not be precisely what you want, but it should be
enough to give people some experience with the group of researchers to
determine if they are worthy of getting more money -- and if they
start publishing papers left and right maybe myself and others would
start donating more or investing large chunks.

By the way, I'm a radical believer in doing work on a purely
for-profit basis. I dislike charities. On the other hand, I'm
interested in seeing the work done, and the reality of investment law
in the U.S. is that the costs of setting up a program to permit very
small investments in cryonics research are prohibitive.

> I am constantly surprised and troubled by the willingness of 
> so many cryonicists to accept the current status-quo. 

I dislike the status quo. Perhaps the cryocare foundation could set up
a pledge program of the sort I just described and contract with a
research company -- like 20th Century Medicine -- to do the actual
research. Use your imagination. However, if you want people to spend
money, the first thing you must do is give them an opportunity to
spend it.

Perry

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