A sacrifical lamb

In a very sad, deplorable and counter-intuitive way we owe Epstein a debt of gratitude. In death, his life has opened a can of worms so revealing it has got everybody (well, nearly everybody there’ll always be those who aren’t interested) thinking about the form and character of our elite human compatriots and the structures of their networks. As we wait all agog to find out whether Mandelson will have his collar felt we can also reflect on the simple truth that these people (and e.g. their fellow travellers the ‘Masters of the Universe’ who through greed and pure self-interest brought on the financial crisis) are utterly flawed and deserve no more respect than anyone else. So the question is: how do they get away with it? (Query: is Mr Mountbatten-Windsor being offered up to save a few skins? Despite his prominence, he was seen by many as pretty useless.) Perhaps if he’s found guilty and put away (at His Majesty’s Pleasure, as they say) will the powers that be breathe a sigh of relief and hope that this small sacrifice will help them preserve their privileges and nexus? How exactly will this episode pass into history?