[FRIAM] more Epstein fallout

[Marcus Daniels]

Merle wrote:

"The big takeaway from her workshop is:  "those of us advocating positive social change have a sacred duty to move that money from where it was ill-got and put it to use in rightful ways."

First we have to presume there is such a thing as positive social change, as opposed to change motivated by arbitrary preferences and promoted by organizations that happen not to be taxed.

Why is it important that a researcher or some agent for whatever kind of change get access to Epstein's assets?   Shouldn't claimants have the first cut?  If illegal activity led to the assets in the first place, then the government could seize that property.  What consensus definition of rightful is there other than the law?   I suppose given the fact the government designates some organizations as non-profit, it is pretty much a free-for-all of opportunity.   All non-profits can claim to be on equal footing with regard to their sacred duties and rightful uses of the money.

Is there really a significant distinction between a for-profit and a non-profit and the use of money from culturally-alien sources?  It's all compensated by tax policy.   Why shouldn't start-ups take money from the Saudi public investment fund?   Their treatment of women and gay people is horrific.    A company that completely relies on that funding will be motivated to look away from atrocities by that government.   On the other hand, the managers of that fund may become more aware of what it takes to be visible in western economies too, and our culture will bleed into theirs.

Marcus


________________________________
From: Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> on behalf of Merle Lefkoff <merlelefkoff at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2020 5:43 AM
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <friam at redfish.com>
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] more Epstein fallout

The queen of strategies for how non-profits can squeeze money out of those who have too much and have earned it in nefarious ways (almost always) is a woman named Lynne Twist.  Lynne teaches a brutal workshop called "The Soul of Money."  The big takeaway from her workshop is:  "those of us advocating positive social change have a sacred duty to move that money from where it was ill-got and put it to use in rightful ways." Unfortunately for us at the Center, we don't know any uber-Capitalists.

On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 4:45 PM glen <gepropella at gmail.com<mailto:gepropella at gmail.com>> wrote:
At the risk of offense, I'm not sure how I feel about Lloyd being put on admin leave. The old trope about 'dirty money' has always rang hollow for me. All money is always dirty. It reminds me of this guy:

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/04/portland_man_accused_of_druggi.html

I can't find it now. But he supposedly open sourced his patents and was a member of the dorkbot community. At what point do we forget the origins of some funding? I mean, Bill Gates' money was aggregated via some filthy monopolistic methods. Does that imply nonprofits should turn down their help?

On January 11, 2020 12:35:59 PM PST, Marcus Daniels <marcus at snoutfarm.com<mailto:marcus at snoutfarm.com>> wrote:
>Waiting for the other shoe to drop..
>
>https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mit-review-cites-big-mistakes-taking-epstein-donations-n1113911

--
glen

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--
Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D.
President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy
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