that allowing things such as kidneys to be bought and paid for might start us on a slippery slope toward a less sympathetic society than we would like to live in. The concern, often not clearly articulated, is that monetizing certain transactions might not itself be objectionable but could ultimately cause other changes that we would regret. That slide might begin, for example, by reduced public enthusiasm for existing forms of support for the poor and vulnerable in ways that might make them feel that they needed to sell, say, a kidney.
