For a real life example right now, take a look at the United States healthcare system. Specifically look at cancer treatments. Cancers that were considered a death sentence 20 years ago are almost entirely suviveable now. We have the treatments. Unfortunately they are VERY expensive.

So the poor get the cancer, get it treated, go into remission, stop taking expensive anti-cancer drugs, oops the cancer is back, repeat the cycle over and over, all while becoming more and more destitute and staying juuuuust healthy enough to work in the shittiest possible jobs to pay your infinite medical bills and living in the shittiest possible situation.

The wealthy, for obvious reasons, don’t get caught in that same cycle can receive better and more consistent care, and don’t arcrue the same level of debt.

This is how it already works right now.

But you’re ignoring the part that they will extend the 90% lives, just not as much and at a much lower quality of life. You just focused on my last sentence.

Hmm, an interesting thought experiment. But my concern is about quality of life, not necessarily lifespan. For example, pharmaceutical companies could ensure that people live longer, on average, by making suitable treatments that are expensive and keep people in lower classes from achieving social mobility, while still technically increasing the average lifespan. Especially if this is done in conjunction with, say, the top 10% figuring out how to effectively double their lifespans.

The question was about whether or not addicts are capable of thinking rationally. As someone who grew up with heroin addict parents and struggles with addiction myself, I promise you I know what I’m talking about.

I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. Addicts are perfecrly capable of thinking rationally. Acting rationally is another thing, but the desire for more heroin becomes a PHYSICAL need. And your.body and mind have a hard time rationalizing NOT taking something that every signal in your body tells you that you need. A heroin addict trying to kick heroin is akin to you trying to quit eating food. Nobody misread your post, they just all knew more than you.

I’m going to save you some time and frustration and just let you know: You’re being down voted because you seem to be treating drug addiction like a personal failing rather than the disease that it is.

Knowing the thing you are addicted to could kill you is not a significant deterrence when you are addicted to something like heroin. You just feel terrified and also addicted. Clearly you don’t understand addiction, and shouldn’t be passing judgement on to others.