I have been so repulsed by the Epstein revelations that I was certain I wouldn’t write about them. But how could I not add my voice to the chorus of people pointing to this as one of the best (worst) examples of the consequences of greed and extreme wealth.
When those of us critics of extreme wealth point out the dangers of too much money in the hands of a few, we talk about its negative impact on democracy, the economy, affordability–all of the problems associated with heightened status anxiety. We rarely mention sexual abuse. Add that to the list!
It is estimated that there are 300 “prominent” figures mentioned in the Epstein files. And to be clear, “prominent,” in this sordid case, essentially means the ultra-rich. Nonetheless, it is important to distinguish between those who are Wankers, Wink-ers or Wonk-ers. The Wankers, which I use in the British slang sense as “contemptible,” (although contemptible may not be harsh enough) are those engaged in the sexual misconduct or are contributors to the systemic abuse of women. Wink-ers are those who were aware of Epstein’s proclivities, chalked it up to “boys-will-be-boys” and did nothing about it. And the Wonk-ers are those who were smart enough (although it didn’t take a lot of smarts) to realize Epstein was a toxic human being and stayed clear of him.
It will be some time before we know more precisely which people fall into which category. I think we’d agree that the Wankers deserve severe punishment. But what about the Wink-ers? A large group of very powerful people who just turned an eye, or even more, tried to use their relationship to increase their wealth and power.
Of course, this is just another example of one of the biggest problems our country faces…too many Wink-ers. We all work for–or are dependent on–billionaires, in one form or another… lawyers, baseball players, Amazon employees. And we’re frequently put in positions where we, too, have to wink. But only occasionally does turning an eye have such grave consequences as with the Epsteinites. Yes, at the top of the list is Congress. We have a Wanker-in-Chief and hundreds of powerful Wink-ers who have allowed this guy to destroy what most of us hold dear as Americans.
And what about the philanthropy sector? Will the recipients of contributions from the Epstein Class respond by redirecting those gifts to support efforts to address sexual abuse or even remove the Winkers from elected office? Will students and faculty at universities respond, as did those at Ohio State University, demanding that the donor’s name be removed from campus buildings and programs?
There is really only one way we’re going to curb the abuses of the Epstein Predator Class, and it is with the most important “W,” the Workers. These are the folks on the front lines who are trying to correct all of the abuses that stem from the Excessive Wealth class: folks like the nurses at Ohio State University, or grassroots organizers throughout the country who are saying, quite literally, “enough is enough.” And yes, there are a few politicians that are speaking up, although virtually none of them represent one of our two political parties. Workers vote for those who are on the frontlines.
Recently, a good friend of mine, Gyongy Laky, sent me an email. She lives in the North Beach section of San Francisco, and described having coffee in the neighborhood when a man, who calls himself the “gentleman poet of North Beach,” came by. Diego de Leo, 91 years old, writes a poem each day. When he takes walks in the neighborhood, he hands out printed copies of that day’s poem:
LIFE
We come into this world
naked and poor,
and we leave the same way,
therefore to acquire
more than is needed
is pure vanity,
fantasy and greed.
– Diego De Leo
It is hard to imagine a group of people more consumed by vanity, fantasy and greed than the Wankers and Wink-ers of the Epstein Predator Class. The antidote: Workers!