Juggling Dynamite

An amazing life and insight. 93 years, strong and clear.  Inspiring humility and perspective: “I am the peer of whoever I am talking to.” 

In the 1970s (and decades following), TV producer Norman Lear touched the lives of millions with culture-altering sitcoms like All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Good Times, pushing the boundaries of the era and giving a primetime voice to underrepresented Americans. In an intimate, smart conversation with Eric Hirshberg, he shares with humility and humor how his early relationship with “the foolishness of the human condition” shaped his life and creative vision. Here is a direct video link.

The business model of duping people into paying fees for supposed insights and education on how to ‘get rich’ is old as time but particularly prevalent in today’s widespread preoccupation with gaming, tricks and how to ‘win’ money without merit or culpability for illegal acts. Corrupt and fraudulent leaders that are wealthy enough to purchase immunity have become widely vaunted and followed by the masses. For an excellent essay on point, read The Age of Impunity, by Jeffrey Sachs:  “Impunity means that the rich and powerful escape from punishment even when their malfeasance is in full view. Impunity is epidemic in America. The rich and powerful get away with their heists in broad daylight.”

In a system run by wolves, and woefully few shepherds, sheep are never safe and financial crisis never ending:

The Trump University fraud lawsuits [which began in 2013 long before he was a political nominee] will in all likelihood hang over Donald Trump during the general presidential election. But during a Thursday morning appearance on MSNBC, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman claimed Trump tried to make at least one of the fraud cases go away years before he emerged as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

During his campaign, Trump has repeatedly claimed he “never settles” lawsuits against him or his companies. But according to Schneiderman, “Before the complaint was filed [in 2013] there were discussions.”

“He did offer to settle,” Schneiderman continued. “He settles cases all the time.” Here is a direct video link.

Dilbert creator and “How to Fail at Everything and Still Win Big” author Scott Adams discusses Trump’s powers of persuasion and branding in this clip from May 27, 2016. Here is a direct video link.