I thought, in the middle of deep thinking and grave debates about the condition of the country, it might be fun to have a game to test people's take on political and human values. The game goes like this:
Pretend a tremendously clever scientist invents a vaccine that extends the life of cell telomeres, thereby allowing the cells to divide indefinitely and the person to never die of natural causes. After producing 10,000 doses of this vaccine, however, the scientist is brutally attacked in the parking lot and killed. Not having a will, the scientist's invention becomes the property of the state.
Question: Who gets the 10,000 doses and how are they picked?
The first idea consists of holding a national lottery for all citizens to determine the recipients with everyone having an equal shot.
The next plan comes from people who feel those in greatest need should get the vaccine, for example, people who are currently dying of some incurable disease, especially children.
Another view would give the vaccine to those whose work most merits the longest life, for instance, people working on cures for AIDS, heart disease, stroke, ALS or similar diseases. Some would also include people working to abolish poverty, etc.
A group favors a straight auction, with the vaccine going to the highest bidders, the proceeds going to reduce the deficit.
Some say the vaccine should be destroyed since it goes against the will of God.
Others like the idea of the lottery, but feel each entrant should present proof that he/she has done something that benefits some segment of humanity.
Remember: there afre only 10,000 doses and it doesn't look like there's going to be any more.
If you were in a position to make the call, what would you do?