At 02:04 PM 7/25/01 +0200 J. van Baardwijk wrote:
>>Given that I value my own life at around US$500mil to US$1bil
>
>When someone kidnaps you, do you really believe someone will pay 0.5 - 1
>billion dollar for your release? Kidnapped captains of industry have been
>released by their kidnappers for less than that; do you think that you, as
>an ordinary civil servant, are worth more than those people?
Of course not.
First, I would point out that if I was ransomed for, say, a mere $1mil, I
would simply consider it a deal. I paid a cheaper price for something I
would have gladly paid much more for.
Secondly, the amount with which I value my life does not equal the value
others place on my life.
Finally, the amount I would be willing to pay for ransom is decreased by
the probability of being released or recused without a ransom.
Additionally, the amount is also decreased by the cost palced on me for
rewarding kidnapping. If by paying a ransom, I simply encourage more
kidnappings, I am much less likely to pay a ransom.
The only way to truly value your life, is to consider the following question:
How much would someone have to offer you to take a hypothetical injection
that will killy instantly and painlessly in one month's time?
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
We are products of the same history, reaching from Jerusalem and
Athens to Warsaw and Washington. We share more than an alliance.
We share a civilization. - George W. Bush, Warsaw, 06/15/01
