Hostage deals, power pyramids and ego-stroking

I’m relatively young but it’s fair to say that my life’s been a mosaic of experiences. Likely more so than what many people go through in their entire lives. Some people can sense that about me, it seems, even strangers. As such, I’m often asked for advice. I don’t always like this role, I’m not a know-it-all, but giving advice has a certain ego-stroking quality to it. And yes, I’m not that good at following my own advice. Shocker, huh?

What we write here on the marketplace of ideas blog isn’t just musings of Schlomo Schlekenstein. I do hope, as naive as it sounds, that even top politicians visit us here sometimes, if just for five minutes, as their plane is about to take off. I understand they are busy, but come on, five minutes. It’s like with people who avoid learning English, always coming up with excuses. How many times have you heard that one?

”I’d love to improve my English but I’m swamped.”

Not even five minutes? Really? Nonsense. Sounds like an excuse to me. Same with all the busy politicians. If they truly want to represent us, then there’s no better way than skimming through several opinion pieces written by people from all walks of life who voice their ideas and concerns. If politicians truly want to gauge what the public sentiment is like, there’s no need to employ expensive experts – just read the marketplace of ideas or similar blogs and columns.

Have you noticed how the former hostages are rarely asked about the hostage-deal-in-the-making? US officials talk about hope, and so on. Yet, I have never seen Antony Blinken, and others, actually asking these people who have gone through hell: ”What do you think of the hostage deal progress, do you have any advice to share with us?” You’d think that the former hostages are the ones who could offer the most realistic assessment. They might not be professional negotiators but they understand the mentality of the enemy better than even the seasoned CIA or Mossad operatives ever will.

Now, the harsh truth. Many, hopefully not most, politicians, aren’t interested in hostages. Sure, they know all the right slogans and smiles, but that’s it. Relying on politicians for help is risky, to say the least. Politicians always want something in return, nothing is free with them.

If you had, say, a billion dollars, would you wait for politicians to rescue your family member? Nope. You’d hire a team of professional trackers and special forces guys, the best in the world, to get your family member back home. But then, you’d be faced with a) your own government likely having an issue with your actions cause we supposedly don’t negotiate with terrorists (oh wait) and b) families of the other hostages who would be screaming, ”Why not us?” A complex, and twisted, conundrum but there’s no time for philosophizing when people are being raped and castrated.

Sometimes, it’s better to take action and ask for forgiveness later. Who dares, wins. Not always, but often enough to try.

The current US administration is close to the finish line. As such, some of them are going to be willing to take more drastic action and risks to mark their legacy, while others are going to play it safe, just to get to the ”conferencing period” in their lives.

The question, friends, is this: Who’s the dominant force in the ongoing hostage negotiations?

Now, back to the conferencing and book writing period so many politicians are waiting for. They can’t wait to be invited to speak at various events organized by posh-sounding institutes and institutions. Well, let’s take a closer look at these institutes and institutions, generally speaking.

They attract, often well-meaning, students and scholars to take part in their workshops, seminars and other activities. Retired politicians are, of course, given a VIP treatment and a lot of money to say a thing or two. Give a pleonastic, platitude-filled, speech or two. A great job to have, right?

But your position as a prospective student or a scholar is dramatically different here.

You’re just a tool for the ones at the top (the ones in charge of the organization and VIP politicians, and so on) to get your money and to use you, and others like you, as puppets and props to promote the ones at the top. That’s it.

Sure, the ones at the top are going to help one or two participants to boost their careers. You need to show off your success sometimes. Photos, galas, smiles, sitting and standing pretty in high heels. That’s how you attract more naive and vain students to take part in your PR Ponzi scheme operation, as I call it.

Friend, listen carefully here: all you’re going to end up with is some certificate of attendance that, in most cases, no one in the real, serious, world knows or cares about. So, if you’re thinking of taking part in something I’ve just described because you feel excited and want to change the world, you’re convinced that it’s a great opportunity to rub shoulders with VIPs, forget it. VIPs won’t remember you the second they leave the building.

Think of a smart and attractive woman who is surrounded by a bunch of pickup artists with pathetic pickup lines. She rolls her eyes at them, maybe sticks out her tongue to mock them, and walks away giggling at their foolishness and audacity that they would even entertain the notion of interacting with her in any way.

Romantic songs and poems. She’s heard it all a thousand times before. That’s how VIPs see you when you’re just another student surrounding them, telling them about your world-changing idea, and blocking their way out of the building.

These VIPs are going to get paid big money, or have already gotten paid, and you’re just a nuisance blocking their way out of the building. Harsh? Yes. Sorry. But true.

Better write an awesome article that’s going to reach a lot of people on all levels of society.  You have a better chance of attracting a VIP’s attention, or one of their advisors, that way.

”I like the way this guy’s thinking,” a VIP might mutter. ”A good writer, too. I’m intrigued.”

Voila. You’ve made a lasting impression. Mission accomplished.

Don’t be a merchant number 529, selling the same stuff as 528 merchants before you. Bypass them all. And writing articles is one way to do it.

A smart politician would actually get one of his or her aides to comb through, say, the marketplace of ideas daily – and then even invite the authors of particularly interesting ideas for an exchange of ideas. That’s what a mature government and a mature democracy looks like. There’s a hierarchy in place, sure, just how societies are, but even Schlomo Schlekenstein can be heard by the powers that be.

Otherwise, we’re in an autocracy not that different from Russia, Iran, and others. Doesn’t seem to me it’s that bad. Yet, anyway.

So, to any government and intelligence officials and employees with any sway who might be reading this: you have some powerful and pragmatic minds here, contributing to the marketplace of ideas.

It’s a gold mine of a resource. Don’t ignore it.