Re: a to-do list for the next century

From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Sun Mar 26 2000 - 12:58:42 MST


Zero Powers wrote:
>
> >From: CurtAdams@aol.com
> >
> >In a message dated 3/25/00 21:11:18, you wrote:
> >
> > >Don't get me wrong. I wish there was a bunch more research being done on
> > >nano, cryo and immortality. But the only way to get funding for such
> > >research is to convince people that there money is better spent there
> >than
> > >somewhere else. I just think we're going to have a heck of a time
> > >convincing people of that as long as there are things to spend money on
> >like
> > >feeding, healing and improving the standard of living of the 6 billion
> > >people we already share this planet with.
> >
> >I don't think there's any such problem. We spend billions on research for
> >diseases like Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and prostate cancer, where the
> >result will only benefit old people in rich countries. Much less gets
> >spent on research for 3rd world food production. I don't see why
> >attitudes would be substantially different about longevity research, a
> >new way of benefitting old people in rich countries.
>
> I was replying to a message which suggested supporting longevity research as
> something that would benefit the rich first, then trickle down to mere
> mortals later. In other words "Lets fund research that will benefit the
> rich because, eventually, you might be able to afford it to." Of course
> research that will benefit citizens of rich countries will get funded
> because it is primarily those rich countries that are doing the research.
> This is different from trying to fund research that will benefit rich
> *people* in rich countries.

Its been conclusively shown that there IS no third world hunger problem,
at least as far as food production is concerned. The agricultural
production in the 3rd world is sufficient for a 3500 calorie diet for
every man, woman, and child. What the problem is is that the
transportation, processing, and storage infrastructure is either poor or
non-existent, so much or most of that food goes to waste. Additionally,
most ALL 'famines' are the creations of governments as tools of
opression and/or warfare. You want to 'solve' world hunger, solve those
problems. The food is already out there.



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