Sam Bankman-Fried was a bigger threat to democracy than the Jan 6th insurrectionists
Before we delve into Jan 6th and FTX, ponder the above photograph. We have a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the former President of the United States sharing the stage with a dude in a baggy t-shirt, shorts, and unkempt hair. The dynamics of this photo are powerful. Sam Bankman-Fried is telling Blair and Clinton and more importantly the power structures that Blair and Clinton represent, that he (SBF) disrespects them, that he (SBF) is a power they can’t control. You can see the unease in Tony Blair’s face, he knows, he shouldn’t be there. Clinton’s body language is protective, withdrawn. Sam Bankman-Fried projects power. He even has his phone if Blair and Clinton bore him. Why are Blair and Clinton sharing the stage with Sam Bankman-Fried? Why? Billions of dollars, of course. Sam is telling the old elite, “I matter now, and I will use you and you’ll like it.”.
On Jan 6th, 2021, a motley, semi-organized mob rioted, broke into Capitol buildings caused mayhem and injury. The Department of Justice has charged over 880 individuals with 412 already pleading guilty. Of those charged 272 face charges of assaulting or impeding officers, including 95 charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapons. That led to 140 police officers across two departments to sustain injuries. Very serious stuff. A…