The world is undoubtedly moving in a direction where some industries fall into a grey area of morality. Many of these future industries I have talked about, for example genetic engineering, stem cell research ect. The United States has always become wealthier primarily because they have adopted new technology, embraced it without heavy regulation and let companies work freely. We saw this with the rise of automobiles, the rise of the internet and the sale of military arms and vehicles. However today we are facing moral pushback for certain industries that might eventually cost us millions of jobs throughout a 100 year period.
An industry, if important and generally useful , will always survive even if a country chooses not to pursue the prospects of it. Some other country eventually would because the monetary pay off is too great to pass us. If we didn’t pursue better military vehicles, or if we didn’t pursue nuclear weapons, someone else eventually would have. This is the key part of the debate that people don’t seem to understand. Stopping something in the short term doesn’t mean in the long term it won’t be released.
In the United States, due to mainly religious ideology, we are having pushback against the genetics and stem cell research fields. We have already lost years of potential estimated research time due to lobbying, protesting and anger from civilians. Eventually though, if we continue to give into the demands of a group of people who are against the progress of human evolution, we will lose the scientific advantage to other countries.
The biotech industry is still in its complete infancy and has the potential to become a trillion dollar market that could extend average lifespans by decades in the future, but there is so much red tape around the industry, there is only so much a company can do. If you break your neck say horseback riding and become paralyzed, there is a real chance that today you can use stem cell research to fix the problem, but it would cost you millions of dollars. This is because getting stem cells in the United States is extremely hard and expensive.
We could supply the industry with more than enough if we used unorthodox methods, but the government is protecting the interests of a small group of people. Even if god does exist, we were put here on earth to enjoy our time here, not to become a paraplegic and avoid the possibility of treatment because of a red line we cant cross in a flourishing future industry. If we lose the race to the table now, we wont just be behind, there is a possibility we wont even be part of it.
What tends to happen with new industries is the people that are the first movers end up being the only real companies in the space for a long period of time. Just look at where the automobile companies during the majority of the 1900s and where the internet companies were focused. For all we know we might just be throwing away an industry that will be the biggest in the world because of moral pushback. We need to continue research and avoid regulation on industries that are the future, even if some people don’t approve of them.
This article makes me think of my opposition to Ripple costing me thousands in profits. (A drunken night of "morality" had me sell 30000 XRP at 6 cents for a small profit...)
You are out of pocket, but money is not nearly as rewarding as living a life according to one's own code. I think you should feel good about your decision. I applaud you for it. Though, I'm a tad confused. Typically morality goes out the window when you are drunk.. I would not have expected you to sell at such a time.
Thanks, man. It was more of a realization that I am a hypocrite for having a bank account while cursing a currency which deals with banks. It was more of a "Im not holier than thou" moment. It was in all reality a "check yourself" morality point afterwards. I just want to be consistent morally and not put myself off as something else. THat's what the beer did. lol Made me holier than xRP. lol
At least you had the integrity to go by what your convictions were at the time.
Inquiry should not be forbidden. Knowledge is not evil. Action can bring about injury. Adults should be responsible for the results of their actions, but not limited by 'what ifs'. Feeding people last year's experiment without their knowledge, I think, should be criminal, if it isn't.
The philosophers of antiquity explained how morality was used as another method of control. As the state changes, so does the morality of the people. We've been under a major shift in what is perceived to be acceptable state conduct and governance for some time, so it's inevitable our overall morality as a people will see a shift also, as I believe we already have seen some significant changes over the last 10-15 years.
Good article and it's been an issue that has been brewing for a while. It's why countries like South Korea and Singapore have been able to lure top biotech talent away from the United States.
It's not just jobs however, but potentially millions of lives, that could be at stake as well.
not only a matter of 'morals,' but fear vs. intelligence - or rather a trust in the laws of science versus resistance to change & growth in awareness...
you can bet your booty, all this and more are full steem ahead, when you have individuals sitting on Billions of dollars, with endless money to spend, no one is going to stop them.
And its not technology that they are going to share, most likely be patented and buried, like so many other earth and life saving inventions.
they may be looking for immortality, but its only for a chosen few.
There game is lowering the population :-)
The only real way to accomplish anything in this country is to vote with your dollars. Education in this country long long ago actually taught children how to be proprietors. Today it teaches them to keep their heads down and to tow the company line--regardless of the consequences or immorality of their employers. This article seems fear-based. In this particular area, advancing with caution and extensive study beforehand is the only way to proceed, IMO. 'Science' tends to be blinded by $$'s, and almost without exception dives right into a half-run experiment on the population--sometimes conveniently subsidized by the government.
Thank you. Reading this post, and then the comment section, I felt truly alone.
upvote and RS for u