The point is we are being asked to accept something no one should have to accept.

Whether or not Jeffrey Epstein was allowed to take his own life, or was coerced into it, or was murdered isn’t relevant to me. The relevant part is that whatever occurred, justice was not the priority.

It is implausible that Jeffrey Epstein couldn’t have been kept alive if that was our government’s goal. Chelsea Manning was imprisoned for seven years and made multiple attempts at suicide before having her sentence commuted, all prevented. That Epstein was allowed to die before justice could be served, however it happened, means our government simply was not trying to keep him alive.

That should give everyone pause. If ever there were something Americans could find consensus on, it’s that people who run child rape rings should be brought to justice. The fact that this has been going on for decades with the consent of the political class is the clearest indication I’ve ever seen that America Is Not Working Out. That the values and systems we have paid so much into are not giving a good return. That something else needs to happen.

This is what having a justice and prison system is supposed to be for— to protect us from kidnappers and rapists, to dispense punishment and law that deters this from happening.

But that isn’t the case. We witness that because of Jeffrey Epstein’s wealth and connections he is allowed to escape justice, and all we can do is watch.

Being asked to swallow such a heinous saga of crimes as just another blip on the 24-hour news cycle is galling, no matter where on the political spectrum you fall.

The message is clear: if you have enough money, you can live a life of sadistic excess, infiltrate our political system, and never face the consequences even if caught.

(No, I don’t consider death to be justice for Epstein; he should have served the 45 years he was facing like any humbler serial rapist would have).

On the other hand, if you’re the 99%, expect to be held accountable to the full extent of the law and all its invisible walls beyond.

This is the stuff marches to Versailles are made of. This should be triggering an Area 51 on DC or the Trump Tower, but its not, because we know innately that wouldn’t work anymore. The oppression isn’t as single-source, it pervades every aspect of life. It’s not a snake, it’s a hydra, becoming stronger with every failed violence against it.

So without a satisfying outlet, this smoking gun with no target, the rage vents out in memes.

Which is funny, and satisfying, but also sad, because it too will fade like all memes if this the only way we as a people express the feelings this betrayal has unlocked.

Let it fully hit you. If you can accept this as just business as usual, I believe you have some serious reconciling to do on a personal level. Don’t justify this. This is as wrong as wrong can be.

Make something with this feeling of betrayal. Take steps away from the pyramid. Find friends doing the same. Learn skills together. Or at least argue with me about it, keep the discussion about this alive beyond memery.

Use this face-smacking reminder of how far through the looking glass we’ve gone, how petty our fights have become, and how possible it is to apply all that energy to making better systems to manage our lives and communities.

If we don’t change things when our government is actively covering up for rapists who sell children into prostitution on private jets, when will we?