Short post. What Can We Learn from the Epstein Affair?
What can we, ordinary citizens, learn from this sordid saga?
That the people in Epstein’s circle could have been stopped.
None of them became the sort of person who befriended him.
They already were, much as power corrupts the already corruptible.
These people would always have been hungry for recognition and willing to eat any mouthful of it—no matter if it came from poisonous creatures.
And if their excuse is poor judgement, they have probably shown lots of poor judgement in the past.
If they are “sorry” now that they have been found out, they have likely had similar episodes where they were “sorry” when caught red-handed.
In other words, the signs would have been there for decades.
It was predictable but not inevitable that these people ended up in the Epstein files.
What if the warning signs had been recognised early?
Did they deflect blame or claim credit?
Did they admit error?
Did they show empathy?
How did they treat those beneath them?
How did they handle criticism? By attacking or seeking revenge?
Was there much “my way or the highway”?
Any temper tantrums? Followed by playing the victim?
Did they walk their own talk?
Or did they leave the heavy lifting to somebody else?
Lots of charm, little substance?
Not always telling the truth? Breaking promises?
Betraying people? Playing games?
Any signs of insecurity? Seemed eager to fawn on those above them?
Or on anyone with a tiny bit more prestige than themselves?
For instance, the coworker whose mother had been at a party with David Bowie in 1969?
We often know when something is wrong with another human being. Sadly, we are also eager to please, thirsty for praise, easily fooled by a charming manipulator—making us push the “BUT” button.
“But he is so competent.” – “But she is so good with people.” – “But a bit of ruthlessness is needed in this business.”- “But, sometimes you need to cut corners.” – “But we all make mistakes.” – “But, he didn’t mean any harm.”
A persistent stream of “BUTS” led to these people landing or holding positions with enough prestige to be picked up on Epstein’s radar.
And that is another lesson from this affair: Stop excusing bad behaviour.
A sordid saga could have been limited to a brief notice about a despicable human being no one had heard of, with a few accomplices no one had heard of either, and a few victims swiftly taken care of.
That did not happen. Because no one stopped Mandelson, Jagland, Andrew, Chomsky, Musk or the rest of the lovely lot.
They were able to sail through life until they hit an underwater rock called the Epstein files.
Most of them did not abuse any women or underage girls. Still, they were King Jeffrey’s excellent enablers.
And they have likely been excused for bad behaviour and poor judgement for decades, long before they shook hands with the inglorious bastard.
Remember that the next time you have a “But, he is…” at the tip of your tongue.
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