From: Hal Finney (hal@finney.org)
Date: Wed Apr 24 2002 - 20:58:06 MDT
Dan Fabulich writes:
> Interesting article in the WSJ today; I'll transcribe as fast as my
> fingers can type. Expect no proofreading, and that all the technical
> mistakes are my own.
>
> HARRY AND LOUISE RETURN, OPPOSING THE BAN ON CLONING
> Worrywart Couple Who Helped Scuttle Clinton Health Plan Question Bush
> Policy in New Ad
Thanks or taking the time to type that in, Dan. It's amazing to see this
collision between a futuristic technology like therapeutic cloning and
these actors, who personify shallow argumentation. Here we are on the
threshold of advances that will redefine the human species and perhaps
even the meaning of reality itself. Ahead lie challenges fit to stump the
greatest philosophers in history. And what do we get? Harry and Louise.
Even more ironic, Harry and Louise are on the side that is promoting the
new technology. These people, who represent the lowest common denominator
of the American public, are shown complaining about scientists being
put in jail who are trying to save our lives.
What's next, Harry and Louise on uploading? On the Singularity?
Presumably by then we'll have computerized Harry and Louise avatars,
available for sale to the highest bidders to take whatever side they
are being paid to represent.
It's discouraging, but probably realistic, to see that the difficult
challenges ahead will be met by public argumentation at this level
of shallow sloganeering and sound byte politics. The news program in
Robocop had the prescient slogan, "you give us 22 seconds, we'll give
you the world." Harry and Louise fit right into this world.
Hal
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