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To: wagglebee

The science fiction author Larry Niven extrapolated from today’s blood transfusions and organ transplants to a future where longevity is attained by advanced transplant technology. This created such a demand that the society had the death penalty for many, many things (income tax evasion, excess jaywalking) to meet the needs of the 250 year olds.

I can see that happening, once people have the choice of living another 80 years.

I’m also reminded that The Holocaust began as a medical program administered by doctors.


8 posted on 03/25/2015 8:36:44 AM PDT by DBrow
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To: DBrow
The science fiction author Larry Niven extrapolated from today’s blood transfusions and organ transplants to a future where longevity is attained by advanced transplant technology. This created such a demand that the society had the death penalty for many, many things (income tax evasion, excess jaywalking)

This might be the story that stopped me from reading any more Sci-Fi. The hero is shown escaping out of his cell and rampaging down the corridors, breaking tall glass columns of fluids containing organs. The hero knows he is going to die and figures he'll do as much damage as possible to The System. I remember the end, when Niven reveals the guy was in prison because the death penalty was lowered to the extremes you mention.

I used to be an avid reader of this genre, but it seemed that right after I read this story (ca late '60s), a news article came out reporting that China was now starting to use organs from executed criminals. That did it for me - too much Sci-Fi I had read was coming true and the stories had to reach much further and went out of my area of interest.

13 posted on 03/25/2015 9:00:04 AM PDT by Oatka (This is America. Assimilate or evaporate.)
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