X-Message-Number: 9913 Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 19:41:54 -0400 From: Saul Kent <> Subject: Affordability And Trusts Thomas Donaldson (9902) says that, when it comes to cryonics "affordability..., we should look for means to make the better and more expensive ones (methods) at least as good but less expensive." I agree that we should try to make our best cryonics methods as affordable as possible, but do not think it will be possible to make them affordable to all. I think progress in improving cryonics will inevitably lead to patients receiving varying levels of care, which have been documented scientifically. I also think the fact that rich people will have a better chance of survival than poor people will have social and political consequences that could be explosive. For this (and other) reasons, I think the period (which could last for decades) of transition from a deathist to an immortalist society is likely to be unstable and risky. However, I believe those of us who survive this transition period, will have a great (and very long) future to look forward to. Rudi Hoffman (9903) says he has heard that "Saul Kent and some of the other 'big players' in cryonics have...a trust." The only trust I and my partner (Bill Faloon) have at present is, The Reanimation Foundation in Lichtenstein (Europe), which was set up to provide cryonicists with funding *after* they are reanimated. We are working on other types of trusts, but none of them are ready yet. ---Saul Kent Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9913