Making better humans, or rather, making less-bad ones

[jimmy olsen]

If we had complete mastery of genetic engineering and could design a race of Kahn like supermen, sure. I do not think that such a thing is likely to be possible in my life time, so I'd be against anything more complex than option #2

[Josquius]

Only for diseases and very minor tweaks.
A world of upper-class supermen would not be a great place.

[Martinus]

Also, I am not sure I understand the proposal. Already abortion is legal for cases with fetal genetic disorder, and in most civilised countries the cost of the procedure is refunded by the national health service. Likewise, in most civilised countries pre-natal tests are free and offered by the national health service.

So what's the difference between that and your proposal?

[Ed Anger]

I'm not stopping my breeding programs.

[Ideologue]

Also, I am not sure I understand the proposal. Already abortion is legal for cases with fetal genetic disorder, and in most civilised countries the cost of the procedure is refunded by the national health service. Likewise, in most civilised countries pre-natal tests are free and offered by the national health service.

So what's the difference between that and your proposal?

Kickbacks to people who decide to abort weenies.

[Martinus]

Also, I am not sure I understand the proposal. Already abortion is legal for cases with fetal genetic disorder, and in most civilised countries the cost of the procedure is refunded by the national health service. Likewise, in most civilised countries pre-natal tests are free and offered by the national health service.

So what's the difference between that and your proposal?

Kickbacks to people who decide to abort weenies.

As I said already it is not a viable incentive. Those who consider abortion to be a valid choice will do so anyway as long as you allow this to be refunded by a NHS - those who consider it morally unacceptable won't do it for a cash reward.

[Ideologue]

I don't know if that's true: non-crippling defects might be amenable to a little grease.  You've got to overcome inertia, after all.

[Razgovory]

I'm glad nobody puts Ide in charge of anything more important then a crew of short order cooks.

[Ideologue]

I'm glad nobody puts Ide in charge of anything more important then a crew of short order cooks.

I'm being trained to be in charge of developing privilege logs for multibillion-dollar litigation.  So, in other words, you overestimate me.

[Neil]

I'll support you, Ide.

[MadImmortalMan]

If we had complete mastery of genetic engineering and could design a race of Kahn like supermen, sure. I do not think that such a thing is likely to be possible in my life time, so I'd be against anything more complex than option #2

Ah, eugenics wars. 

[Neil]

If we had complete mastery of genetic engineering and could design a race of Kahn like supermen, sure. I do not think that such a thing is likely to be possible in my life time, so I'd be against anything more complex than option #2

Ah, eugenics wars. 

Eugenics wars?  Tim is talking about Oliver Kahn, the former German goalie.

[Ideologue]

I'll support you, Ide.

I never understood the Eugenics Wars premise.  If you can engineer superior intelligence, you can engineer superior empathy.  Maybe they decided, rightly, that it was a weakness in individual men and women.

[CountDeMoney]

If we had complete mastery of genetic engineering and could design a race of Kahn like supermen, sure. I do not think that such a thing is likely to be possible in my life time, so I'd be against anything more complex than option #2

Ah, eugenics wars. 

Eugenics wars?  Tim is talking about Oliver Kahn, the former German goalie.

We need more Madeleine Kahns. 

[Ideologue]

She was fun.