Meeting Report - Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson - March 20

[johnkarls]

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Meeting Reports have been provided less than 10% of the time – usually only when we are inundated with requests for information about what happened.

HOWEVER, this Meeting Report is provided because there were FIVE public-policy issues raised in “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson and it is important to record what decisions were taken on each of them.

As usual, the following has been prepared by John Karls from his notes and each participant is invited to post any comments or corrections.


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There follows immediately below this section, Sec. C of the Discussion Outline which explained in detail what was involved in each of the FIVE public-policy issues raised in “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson.

The short answer to what action was taken???

After considerable discussion which exceeded the 30 minutes of our 2-hour meeting allotted for Sec. C, unanimity was reached supporting all FIVE policies suggested in the Outline.

Accordingly, the only action that will be taken relates to Issue 1 (Electronic Vehicles and Thorium-Fission) and comprises IN THE EVENT THERE ARE ANY BIDEN-TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, trying to raise the issue of thorium-fission with the Moderators and Candidates similarly to the way we did in the 2020 cycle – please see viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1781&sid=e38de6bc7 ... 2d3539f1ca.

The most controversial issue???

No. 3 Ukraine

Specifically, whether to advocate a “carve out” for Ukraine funding from the House of Representatives refusal to provide it unless President Biden restores President Trump’s U.S. Southern Border Policies which President Biden revoked with 94 Executive Orders upon taking office.

[Originally, the House of Representatives had also held hostage funding for Israel.]

The linkage was “heart wrenching” for each of us because all of us firmly believed that Ukraine should be funded.

But each of us also firmly believed that President Biden should restore President Trump’s U.S. Southern Border Policies which President Biden revoked with 94 Executive Orders upon taking office.

Especially since HONORING HIS OATH OF OFFICE TO ENFORCE AMERICAN LAW vis-à-vis the Southern Border would, inter alia, support the United Nations’ 24-Year-Old War on Modern Slavery.

After much soul searching, everyone was able to agree that President Biden should do both – and if President Biden does the one (enforcing American Law vis-à-vis our Southern Border), then there is no obstacle to the other (Ukraine funding).

Accordingly, there was no need for action since we so recently petitioned President Biden on 9/22/2023 to support the United Nations’ 24-Year-Old War on Modern Slavery – please see viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2401&sid=f3ebe163e ... e68cebe3ca.


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Sec. C of the Discussion Outline (please see viewtopic.php?f=790&t=2487&sid=e8262ea9 ... 6522e951fc) had said –

C. Possible Action Campaigns Directed At Decision Makers on the FIVE Public/Policy Issues Framed by “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson – 30 minutes

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If anyone believes that “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson contains any public-policy issues in addition to the FOUR identified in Sec. A of the Suggested Answers to the Short Quiz (viewtopic.php?f=789&t=2485&sid=da06aa95 ... 8eb5bb7575) and the FIFTH discussed in “Federal Government Cancer - Freedom of Speech and Twitter and US Government Dictatorial Rule Over Social-Media Companies” (viewtopic.php?f=789&t=2486&sid=da06aa95 ... 8eb5bb7575), the invitation in Sec. A of the Short Quiz to identify additional public-policy issues is still open.

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The FIVE public-policy issues and tentative reactions of Yours Truly –

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(1) Electronic Vehicles and Thorium-Fission.

We did bombard the 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates (including Joseph R. Biden Jr.) and the Moderators of their first FIVE debates (two of whom, Senators Cory Booker and Michael Bennet, were strong advocates for nuclear energy) in a failed attempt to have the issue raised.

[Please see viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1779&sid=da06aa958 ... 8eb5bb7575.]

We should consider doing the same if there is a Biden-Trump debate.

Short of that, Biden turned “a deaf ear” to thorium-fission in 2019-2020 and he ignored our 11/24/2023 letter imploring him to support thorium fission, so there is probably nothing else to be done (though I am easily persuaded).

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(2) Artificial Intelligence

Yes, nuclear weapons have posed an existential threat to humanity beginning prior to Henry Kissinger’s “Mutual Assured Destruction” (aka “MAD”) policies to cope with it.

And enhanced computer capabilities pose the risk that someone might program a computer to start a nuclear war when Henry Kissinger would have counseled restraint.

But IMHO that is a risk we have always faced.

Though, as usual, I am persuadable that action is warranted.

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(3) Ukraine

Yes, we took action a mere 21 days after the Russian invasion in the form of 3/17/2022 letters to the President of the European Union and the Secretary General of NATO.

And yes, those letters were based without explanation on the fact that, inter alia, America had a SOLEMN OBLIGATION to honor its 1994 guarantee to Ukraine to defend its independence and territorial integrity if it surrendered its 1900 nuclear missiles - despite President Obama having dishonored that SOLEMN OBLIGATION in 2014.

[Please see our 3/16/2022 meeting materials at viewforum.php?f=679&sid=bfe28ab6573d271 ... b4b90342ab, viewforum.php?f=680&sid=bfe28ab6573d271 ... b4b90342ab, viewforum.php?f=681&sid=bfe28ab6573d271 ... b4b90342ab, and viewforum.php?f=683&sid=bfe28ab6573d271 ... b4b90342ab.]

HOWEVER, we also initiated a “Six Degrees of Separation E-mail Campaign” on 9/18/2019 to support the United Nations now-24-year-old War on Modern Slavery” AND FOLLOWED UP WITH A 9/22/2023 LETTER TO PRES. BIDEN (available for download at viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2401&p=3217&hilit= ... 7575#p3217) which said, inter alia –

(1) Human Trafficking is a LARGER business for Organized Crime than illegal drugs!!! And LARGER than illegal guns!!!

(2) There are more slaves today than ever throughout history -- indeed, at least TWICE AS MANY people are CURRENTLY TRAPPED in some form of slavery as were traded throughout the 350 years of the transatlantic slave industry!!!

[Perhaps we should also have mentioned that the average price of a slave delivered to your door-step in America is only $5,250 which has unleashed incredible demand for “sex acts” whose average price in America plummeted to $27.50 – though of course you can use your slave for anything INCLUDING ORGAN HARVESTING and the average “sex slave” is dead before age 35!!! As were included in the aforementioned 9/18/2019 “Six Degrees of Separation E-mail Campaign” to President Trump – the text of which is available at viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1828&sid=6a9976542 ... dbd85c9d23.]

IT IS NOTED THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ENFORCE AMERICA’S IMMIGRATION LAWS VIS-À-VIS THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

IMHO, Pres. Biden’s refusal to enforce America’s immigration laws thereby, inter alia, refusing to support the UN’s 24-year-old War on Modern Slavery -- is unconscionable and should be reversed immediately to clear the way for support for Ukraine.

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(4) Benefitting American Taxpayers for the Scientific Discoveries of Basic Research They Have Financed

Yes, on 11/9/2011 we launched a “Six Degrees of Separation E-mail Campaign” recommending – (A) that the U.S. Government will patent all discoveries resulting from basic research that it funds (National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Department of Defense, etc., etc.), and (B) that the U.S. Government will require licensees, whether U.S.- or foreign-based, to conduct in the United States any manufacturing operations utilizing the technology.

And “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson records several instances in which Musk’s companies have engaged in legal battles over patents.

[NB: Incredibly, Walter Isaacson’s index has no entry for “patents”!!!]

HOWEVER, we are NOT dealing with specific governmental grants to perform specified basic research – but rather the US Gov abandoning to private enterprise such endeavors as launching satellites and providing transportation to the international space station.

ACCORDINGLY, I am inclined to honor the raison d’être of the patent laws which is to permit inventors a limited-term monopoly to exploit their inventions.

ALTHOUGH, I hope participants will believe ex post facto that I am “open minded” on this issue.

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(5) Federal Government Cancer - Freedom of Speech and Twitter and US Government Dictatorial Rule Over Social-Media Companies

My thoughts on this issue are best stated at viewtopic.php?f=789&t=2486&sid=da06aa95 ... 8eb5bb7575.

I’m not sure what can be done to tame our Federal Government but am eager to hear your ideas!!!