EFTA02607824.pdf

From: Noam Chomsky Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2018 4:58 PM To: Subject: Re: Good advice. Will keep it in mind. I guess we're social animals, somehow. Valeria and I saw a very=sad case of it recently. We managed to visit Lula, the world's m=st important political prisoner, locked up right before the election that =e was likely to win in the last stage of the right wing coup that's be=n underway for several years. The charges are derisory. He'=s in solitary confinement, denied any print material, very limited visitin= rights, a TV set fixed to a government channel, and denied the right to m=ke any public statement. 12 year sentence, but with the current neo-=ascist government in place he might succumb to some "mysterious disea=e." Shocking lack of attention to this in the world. <=iv class="gmail_quote"> On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 12:30 PM=J <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> &g=; wrote: i suggest re mediation that it not get bogged down in deta=ls. thats their trick . , stay above t=e fray, ie lets cut the bullshit. and ask harry how much of yo=r money does he believe he deserves. . and that would be=my only sentence repeated over and over. 40.=A0 re conciousness., I have yet to hear a cogent answer =o the question of why putting someone in solitary confinement , has =uch strong mental reactions . moving a plant or chair or compu=er into a closed room has no effect. why do people=hallucinate , talk to themselves. etc. there is almost no work=done on the subject as irb would say no no, and prisons refuse=to allow. . why having no social or at least perce=ved social contact makes people crazy , suicidal etc. .=C24, though im told a tv or radio relieves many of the symptoms. On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 9=24 AM Noam Chomsky < > wrote: Interesting perspective. Pe=haps we can look at it sort of like this. The way our minds w=rk, it develops constructs to try to accommodate our immediate experience =- like table and chairs to accommodate what I'm experiencing now, mani=estations of what we take to be an external world; and comparably, norms o= social action and beliefs about society to accommodate what I experience =n social life, manifestations of what we take to be a prevailing culture.<=div> If so, we're back to Bertie's pictur= but with a broader range, the mind constructing an external world that co=sists of tables, chairs, cultural norms,... in an effort to provide some c=herence to the flux of experience (itself a construct, so our efforts at s=ientific explanation instruct us). There's a =reliminary discussion with the mediator planned for Jan. 2, then a general=mediation session later. Will keep you up-to-date of course. Noam On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 12:06 PM J <[email protected] <[email protected]» wrote: EFTA_R1_01799890 EFTA02607824  =hat i am suggesting is that what the term culture means =C24> is the same as what consciousness means. cul=ure can be describes as russell did for =onsciousness. the physics and math envy habit*=A0 of trying to measure things . we experience culture, =t is stubborn, transmitted, localized. contains memories= boundaries. dictum. . it manifests it=elf in different ways but doesn't have a separate existenc=. it is like consiousness a human construct.=C24, no more no less. btw, is a media=ion date and time set. yet? vincent papers were go=d except for the amount to settle. On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 8:56 AM Noam Chomsky «= href="mailt target="_blank" /a» wrote: =div dir="ltr"> From the point of view of a jihadi, Klan,=evangelical Christian, my ultra-orthodox grandfather, it's the res= of the world that's crazy. I think we can do better than just t= take the fall-back position that craziness is a value judgment, but not s= easy. On consciousness, my suspicion is that we'll=never do much better than Russell's picture: what we understand with h=ghest confidence is our own immediate conscious experience. The rest=of our intellectual efforts (science especially) are an attempt to make se=se of that (and in the course of doing so, instructs us that our experienc= is a construct of our internal modes of cognition acting on an external w=rld that we (naively?) assume to exist. And it also tells us, I thin=, that consciousness is a thin and superficial fringe of an internal menta= life that is inaccessible to introspection. =/div> On Sat, Dec 29,=2018 at 11:39 AM J <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]» wrote: cultures swept by crazi=ess, isnt it the same for an individual. . . =the brain sends signals based on faulty sensors or information. .*=A0 to see if the brain is functioning. there are word tests.=C24, memory tests. etc. . why isnt concious=ess the property of those things. like culture is to fads etc. <=r> On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 8:09=AM Noam Chomsk <mailto: > wrote: Cultures unfortunately can be swept =y craziness. Nazism for example. Or the Great Awakening. =We're in one of those phases now. If there's a charge, it I-=;s true, in fact True. Any response is "mansplaining," ano=her power play, reinforcing the charge. You've seen I'm sure=what happened to Lawrence. Full and complete response, amounts to ze=o. Isn't even considered. It's like trying to discuss =ationally with religious fanatics. Noam =div class="gmail_quote"> 2 EFTA_R1_01799891 EFTA02607825  On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 10:41A=1 <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]» wrote: As the stories get wilder and the writer= make the girls younger. prostitution is a tabloid=s dream , . I wondered if having something out in the cy=er world that let some people point to rational arguments migh= allow some to defend themselves from their wives . " how=could you " etc. al> I have been exploring the Al world with the cutt=ng edge people. I remind them of your comments re machin=s thinking :)/ I tho=ght that culture was the conciousness of a society. trib=s were like self. . media approx transmitters. ..C24k It provided constraints and rules for some underlying interact=ons. It doesnt exist in a physical sense =ut either does conciousness. which it appears to me as a= evolutionary advantage and provides the brain with rule= memories. ( culture again ) . and constraints. . =tribes when attacked , act like a self . . compete like selves.4)=A0 etc. The world we call physical . follows rules that we have cre=ted, most unknowingly. I assume language acts li=e an effective transmittier. . some language like adren=line. some like dopamine. . do some extent the h=rmones of the culture. ? </=iv> On Sat, Dec 29, 2=18 at 7:20 AM Noam Chomsky <mailto: > wrote: It's a powerful and c=nvincing statement, but my feeling is that it would not be wise to submit =t for publication. Taking the stance of a reader who comes to the ma=ter from afresh, perhaps having heard some rumors but knowing nothing, the=reaction I suspect will be of the "where there's smoke there'= fire" kind. Few are willing to think through the arguments and=factual details or to try to adjudicate conflicting claims. I've=seen this happen over and over on other matters -- many years of having be=n accused of Holocaust denial, for example.. Ugly and bitter as it i=, I suspect the best course now is not to stir the pot by raising the issu= publicly, opening the door to charges and accusations that can no doubt b= answered in the court of logic and fairness -- but that's not the pub=ic domain, where innuendo and suspicion and accusation reign. Anyway, for what it's worth, that's the way it looks to me, =n part on the basis of experience. The great work=that you have been doing speaks for itself. My feeling is that you s=ould keep at it, and simply develop a thick skin to fend off whatever ugli=ess breaks through now and then, diminishing over time. Noam On S=t, Dec 29, 2018 at 8:33 AM J <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: Im considering submi=ting this to the oped of the wash post id like your thoughts </=pan> 3 EFTA_R1_01799892 EFTA02607826  Sweetheart deal!" So goes the attack on the resolutio= of the more than a decade ago federal investigation involving our client =effrey Epstein. The attack is profoundly misplaced, supported neithe= by the law nor the facts. Nor is it supported by the structure of our con=titutional republic. To the contrary, Jeffrey was subjected to an extremel= aggressive federal intrusion into what would typically be considered a qu=ntessentially local criminal matter in south Florida. The =ffense investigated — at its core, sexual favors fo= hire — has long been treated as a matter entrusted to l=ws of the several States, not the federal government. The conducti>=A0- for which Jeffrey took full responsibility4)=A0— was a classic state offense and was treated exactly that way b= able, honest prosecutors in Palm Beach County. Nevertheless, w=thout a request from the state prosecutors, the federal government in=ervened. For their own opportunistic reasons, many are now criticizi=g the federal decision- makers at the time, including now-Secretary of Labo= Alex Acosta (then-United States Attorney in south Florida), for not going=far enough. The cr=tics are wrong on the facts and the law. They also ignore a fact going to =he heart of fundamental fairness: In the decade since paying hi= debt to society, Jeffrey Epstein has led a life characterized by responsi=le citizenship, numerous acts of generosity and good deeds.<=> Here are the true key facts:Q=A0 Jeffrey Epstein, a successful self-made businessman with no prior =riminal history whatsoever, engaged in illegal conduct that amounted =o solicitation of prostitution. That conduct was wrong and=a violation of Florida state law. Although no coercion, violence, al=ohol, drugs or the like were involved, some of the women he paid were=under the age of 18. Those facts were carefully assessed by exp=rienced state sex crime prosecutors who aggressively enforce state crimina= laws. No one turned a blind eye to potential offenses to the public=order. To the contrary, the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office c=nducted an extensive fifteen-month investigation, led by the chief of the =ex Crimes Division. Mr. Epstein was then indicted by the state grand=jury on a single felony count of solicitation of prostitution. During that intense investigation, the state prosecutors extensively g=thered and analyzed the evidence, met face-to-face with many of the a=serted victims, considered their credibility — or lack thereof 4>=804o and considered the extent of exculpatory evidence, including sw=rn testimony from many that they lied about being eighteen years=old to be allowed into Mr. Epstein's home. After months of n=gotiations, the state prosecutors believed they had reached a reasoned res=lution of the matter that vindicated the public interest — a resol=tion entirely consistent with that of cases involving other similarly-situ=ted defendants. The system worked as it should have. =/u> Then, in came the feds.Q=A0 The United States Attorney's Office extensively and aggressively in=estigated whether Mr. Epstein had engaged in a commercial human traffickin= ring, targeted minors, or used the internet or traveled interstate i= the process. But that's not what this was and tha='s not what happened. That is precisely why the federal=authorities' ultimate decision to defer prosecution to the st=te was the right one. <=u> However, the federally-demanded resolution was not without c=nditions. The federal prosecutors insisted on various unorthodox requ=rements that Mr. Epstein's experienced defense team had never seen=imposed on any defendant anywhere. Under the federally-forced deal, Jeffre= was required to request that 4 EFTA_R1_01799893 EFTA02607827 the state prosecutors demand the imposi=ion of a thirty-month sentence that included both jail time4=A0and the strictest conditions of probation: lifetime sex-offender registr=tion. Those draconian measures were far more than warranted by the st=te grand jury's indictment and would not have otherwise been =equired under the previously agreed-upon state disposition. As part of thi= highly unusual deal, the government required Jeffrey to pay for=C24,a highly experienced group of attorneys to bring claims against =im on behalf of a government list of asserted victims. Jeffrey was require= to waive the right to challenge those claims without being provided the a=serted victim's identities by the government until after he was in=arcerated. Importantly, the feds' decision to decline prosecutio= in deference to the state in exchange for these extraordinary r=quirements was reviewed and approved at the multiple levels of the U.=. Department of Justice. Jeffrey took full responsibility, comp=ied with the feds' demands, served his sentence, and in the p=ocess was treated exactly the same (including his time served) a= any other state-incarcerated individuals. His conduct while in cust=dy was exemplary, and so characterized by the state custodial authorities.= Jeffrey Epstein has paid his debt to society. The cha=lenges to his Agreement with the Government must also be understood a= challenges to the millions Mr. Epstein paid to the asserted victims and t=eir lawyers pursuant to that agreement. Amongst the beneficiaries of =he Epstein-Federal Government Agreement were the many victims who collecti=ely received many millions as a result of the conditions imposed on Mr. Ep=tein that prevented him from meaningfully contesting civil liability 4>=804k moneys that would be at issue if requests to invalidate the agreemen= were granted. Our nation faces vitally important challenges, =any involving the treatment of women and basic human dignity. Voices=are rightly being raised speaking truth to power, especially about women i= the workplace. But Jeffrey's offenses of yesteryear, which =ere entirely outside of the workplace, have long since been redressed by t=e criminal justice system. He fully and faithfully has per=ormed every promise and obligation required of him by state and feder=l authorities. In the spirit of the bedrock American belief in secon= chances and fundamental fairness, that chapter in Jeffrey's otherwise=productive and charitable life should be allowed to close once a=d for all. =u> please note please note The information contained in this communication is confidential, m=y be attorney-client privileged, may constitute inside information, and=is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property of Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or=any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you hav= received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by<=r>return e-mail or by e-mail [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and destroy this communicati=n and all copies thereof, including all attachments. copyright -all rig=ts reserved 5 EFTA_R1_01799894 EFTA02607828  4)=A0 please note The information=contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client=privileged, may constitute inside information, and is intended only for=br>the use of the addressee. It is the property of JEE Unauthorized =se, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is =trictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this co=munication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail or b= e-mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and destroy this communication and all copies the=eof, including all attachments. copyright -all rights reserved please note The information contained in this communication is confidential, =ay be attorney-client privileged, may constitute inside information, an= is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property ofJEE Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication o= any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you ha=e received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by=br>return e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and destroy this communicat=on and all copies thereof, including all attachments. copyright -all ri=hts reserved trA0 please note The information contained in this communicati=n is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may constitute=inside information, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. =t is the property of JEE Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of =his communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited 6 EFTA_R1_01799895 EFTA02607829  and may=be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please n=tify us immediately by return e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and =estroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachm=nts. copyright -all rights reserved 40,=A0 please note The information contained i= this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged,=may constitute inside information, and is intended only for the use =f the addressee. It is the property of JEE Unauthorized use, disclos=re or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly pro=ibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication =n error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail or by e-mail to =a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">jeevacation@gmai=.com, and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, inc=uding all attachments. copyright -all rights reserved 7 EFTA_R1_01799896 EFTA02607830