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MixedNuts comments on Is Politics the Mindkiller? An Inconclusive Test - Less Wrong Discussion

14 Post author: OrphanWilde 27 July 2012 05:45PM

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Comment author: MixedNuts 28 July 2012 12:59:07PM 4 points [-]

It's unlikely there would be end-to-end oversight. Legal organ harvesters would probably not get looked at very closely (not enough money for inspection) and could easily pass off stolen organ as legitimately bought ones.

I disagree with your characterization of pressured people as idiots. "You aren't bringing home the bacon and you have poor marriage prospects, so you'd better sell a kidney, or I'll kick you out of the house" is not idiocy. But that's not really the point.

I don't see at all how a price floor helps with that.

Comment author: DanielLC 28 July 2012 08:15:22PM 4 points [-]

It's unlikely there would be end-to-end oversight.

Why not? It's outright illegal in every country except one. I would expect it to be heavily regulated if it is ever allowed. If there are problems with stolen organs, they would definitely start regulating it.

Also, I haven't seen anything saying that this is a problem in Iran. I read it has been a problem in India, so they made it illegal. It's not the same as regulating, but it shows that they won't allow that sort of thing to happen.

I disagree with your characterization of pressured people as idiots.

I just mean people selling their kidneys when it hurts them. "Idiots" meaning acting irrationally, not necessarily stupider than average.

I guess it's possible for it to happen like you describe so that they have an additional incentive to sell, in a bad way. I don't think that's likely to happen.

I don't see at all how a price floor helps with that.

It makes it more likely that it actually will be worth while for them. If it's never worth while to sell your kidney for below $x, then setting a price floor above $x would at least mean that some of the people selling their kidneys would benefit.

Comment author: AlexMennen 30 July 2012 10:12:46PM 1 point [-]

(not enough money for inspection)

So tax organ sales enough to pay for the inspection costs.