For what it’s worth, I have an opinion based on a brief review of the most recent Epstein file dump online.
I am not the least bit surprised by the so called “revelations“.
Let’s review:
- A bunch of wealthy people hang out with each other and think they are above the laws, rules and norms of society.
- Some of these people act indecently, distastefully or criminally in private expecting absolutely no consequences.
- People who aren’t yet part of the uber wealthy glom on to Epstein and his cohort of wealthy associates, government leaders, and celebrities kissing their asses. Why? I’d guess because they want to be part of this exclusive group and/or make money from them.
- Many of these people, including those in the 1% and the glommers, tolerate questionable conversations, activities and behavior because of their own self-interests. The want to be at the parties, fly on private jets, vacation on a private island, rub elbows with world leaders, have sex with young women and prostitutes, etc.
Nothing about that is unique. Everyone already knows this is how people have acted for centuries long before the sordid details of Epstein ever entered the public conscious. The Epstein story is yet another example of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
The sexual predation, the abuse, the reported rape and the other criminal allegations make it even more heinous. The salacious details attract attention and make it “newsworthy”.
As for Epstein himself, based on what I read about him, he was a common grifter and con man. He lied, manipulated, blackmailed, schemed and cheated to achieve his objectives of wealth, power, sex, etc.
His sexual predation, accumulation of wealth and the level of the people he associated with make what he did seem extraordinary. But as I thought about it, I thought about Bernie Madoff, Elizabeth Holmes, Enron, Worldcom, the 2008 Mortgage Crisis, the Dot Com implosion… They all share much in common. Con men running scams to enrich themselves and many others wanting to be in on the action.
As for the surprises, there were a few for me. Undoubtedly there will be more discovered over time as people sift through the overload of documents that Trump’s team clearly released in a flood with the intent to cover up anything that might personally hurt Trump and his favored sycophants.
I was surprised to read Peter Attia’s email exchanges with Epstein. His apology was one of the best I’ve read, but I’m disappointed by with these email exchanges. I thought he had higher moral character. Perhaps he does now. Or perhaps he’s like many of us who have kissed ass and tolerated distasteful behavior from higher-ups in order to try to get ahead financially and professionally.
I like to think I have more character. I’m a better man. I have a strong inviolable morals.
Maybe I do.
Or maybe, I was never in situations where my own transgressions were in the public eye or at that level. If I had been, would my behavior have matched my standards?
I know I’m not exceptional. I’m surely not one-in-a-million when it comes to moral character or anything else, no matter how highly I think of myself.
I’ll conclude with this. Of course the Epstein files are attracting attention. Sex. Power. Money. Abuse. Private discussions and actions of the elite being revealed. Stories like this sell. They always have and always will.
I suspect a few people will go down for this. Some may face criminal prosecutions. Others will have their reputations tarnished or their legacies smeared. Many of these so called scandalous revealings will eventually fade into the background.
As for people’s behavior, I suspect little will change.
It won’t be long before a new scandal replaces this one.