I could do with 50 grand, couldn't you?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/kidney-sale-open-to-abuse/2008/05/05/1209839506959.html?sssdmh=dm16.313508

The news has been a great source for topics recently. How bout this one: Commodification of organs. That always gets people going. Get in it!

Doesn't get me going, actually. I have no real strong feelings one way or the other. Tell you what, you start arguing a position and I'll try to counter it.

Doesn't get you going? Jeez, kids these days... is it because listening to the hip-hop gives you the brain damage?

Ok then, hmmm, how about this: Commodification of organs is a good thing, with the potential to help reduce levels of suffering already occurring.

I won't expand further on that, at the moment, just ride with it. There. That get you started?

I'm going for a novel approach- i think Andy's right. While i don't like the idea of people being forced to give up their organs (as has been alleged to occur in Chinese prison populations), but as this system is voluntary, i think Andy's spot on, healthy people will be able to boost the health of those who are ill or otherwise unhealthy- unfortunately nothing can be done about you height deficiency Marc... so sad.

Yes, that was uncalled for- and i apologise, before a slanging match ensues.

But the average Australian isn't healthy. We are a society of fat, alcoholic, smoking, druggies.

Those are the people who are going to be selling their kidneys but they are also the people who need two for their body to handle all the crap they put in it.

This is what a kidney does:

Remove waste and fluid your body does not need
Help to control blood pressure
Help with making red blood cells
Help to keep bones strong

This is what causes kidney disease:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Being overweight.
Smoking

(Thank you to Kidney Health Australia for the info.)

Next time you're walking down the street or around a shopping centre have a look at the people around you. How many fall under 'what causes Kidney disease'?

I'd say a fuck-load.

Glen and I are in agreement? Whoa, cool. Though it seems not as exciting as the whole back-and-forth thing, couldn't you at least pretend to be against me?

That is an interesting point about the unhealthy people selling their kidneys. I wonder if there will be some sort of process by which they determine who can donate, either because their kidney is too damaged to be worth anything (though a damaged kidney still may be better than the artificial ones we have at the moment), or the removal of one of their kidneys would put them in serious danger. I imagine there would be some system.

Maybe this will have the run-on effect of giving people some incentive to actually look after their body; so that it's worth something.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/bidding-wars-in-the-organ-trade/2008/05/07/1210131061931.html

From that same place; hey, it's pretty good.

The first paragraph already makes me sick.

Nick wrote:The first paragraph already makes me sick.

You see, the problem is I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. Why, Nick? Why!

Trizender wrote:But the average Australian isn't healthy. We are a society of fat, alcoholic, smoking, druggies.

Those are the people who are going to be selling their kidneys but they are also the people who need two for their body to handle all the crap they put in it.

This is what a kidney does:

Remove waste and fluid your body does not need
Help to control blood pressure
Help with making red blood cells
Help to keep bones strong

This is what causes kidney disease:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Being overweight.
Smoking

(Thank you to Kidney Health Australia for the info.)

Next time you're walking down the street or around a shopping centre have a look at the people around you. How many fall under 'what causes Kidney disease'?

I'd say a fuck-load.

Trevor we need to get you out of Maitland. It is warping your view of our otherwise wonderful society