Suggested Discussion Outline

[johnkarls]

.

The following outline is respectfully suggested –


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A. Comments About Specific Chapters of “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson – 60 minutes

Our tradition is to devote the first portion of each monthly meeting to going through the focus book, chapter by chapter, to invite important comments that are specific to a particular chapter. After all, each participant (except, perhaps, “first timers”) have taken the time to read the focus book and her/his opportunity to opine on anything in the focus book should NOT be denied.

HOWEVER, our total meeting time of 120 minutes should prove a SEVERE constraint, so please be sure your comments really are important.

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INDEED, since there are 95 CHAPTERS in addition to a PROLOGUE, it is respectfully suggested that in order to pace ourselves properly, it might be appropriate to take the 95 chapters plus prologue in CHUNKS OF 10 with 6 minutes allocated to each chunk.

NB: George Kunath has suggested as an alternative to discuss the book in terms of topics (e.g., Tesla, Space X, Twitter, personal relationships, etc.).

HOWEVER, this runs the risk of preventing one or more participants from raising what s/he considers to be an important point that is not contained in one of George’s topics. AND it is noted that organizing the discussion of the book itself in terms of topics comes close to confining that portion of our discussion to the FIVE PUBLIC-POLICY ISSUES slated for Sec. C below.

NEVERTHELESS, I am content to bow to the will of our participants on March 20.


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B. Further Discussion – 30 minutes

The Suggested Answers to the following questions of this month’s Short Quiz were “What Do You Think??? Let’s Discuss!!!”

[Please see the Suggested Answers at viewtopic.php?f=789&t=2485&sid=da06aa95 ... 8eb5bb7575.]

Q&A – A-4
Q&A – B-17
Q&A – C-1
Q&A – C-2
Q&A – C-5
Q&A – C-6
Q&A – C-7
Q&A – C-10


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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=682&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!!!