JK does attend Bilderberg meetings -- I'm not sure I see a problem with that, but what say you?

[Noisy Democrat]

Another member here asked about this the other day, then deleted her question when it was pointed out that she was in the wrong thread. The thing is, JK is listed as an official attendee of Bilderberg meetings, this year and in some previous years. (I can get the links if anyone doubts -- Bilderberg has an actual website these days, so it's not hard to find.)

I first heard about this a few weeks ago from a friend who's a bit of a conspiracy buff (not anyone from this group) who thought Bilderberg is planning to do terrible things to all of us. I was surprised to find out that Bilderberg is real, and that these days they even have a website. Their explanation for why their meetings are off-the-record is that they want to encourage frank and honest discussion.

So what do we all think about this? I'll tell you my own reaction, but I want to hear what everyone else thinks. I am naturally curious and somewhat concerned about what may be discussed at any off-the-record meetings among the most powerful people in the world. However, they do in fact have a right to talk to one another. It's not like they lose their right to free association once they've reached a certain position in society. I expect they make phone calls to each other without our permission and have private email accounts and do all kinds of things without asking us for a by-your-leave. I'm sure that there are many, many off-the-record meetings among financial magnates and other powerful people going on all the time, without our hearing about it, and some of what they decide will have a profound impact on our lives, and, well, there it is. I'm not yet sure I see any reason to be more concerned about Bilderberg than about any of the rest of what goes on.

As for the fact that JK attends -- my friend thought this was evidence that JK isn't trustworthy. I thought it was rather stronger evidence that Bilderberg isn't actually plotting to put us all in camps or install tracking chips in our necks or any of the other conspiracy theories out there. If JK attends on a more or less regular basis, to me that's actually reassuring and makes the whole thing sound much less likely to be anything shady. But what do you all think about this?

ETA: A poster below pointed out that JK isn't on the 2010 or 2011 participant lists. So maybe this is his first time attending.

[northoftheborder]

1. I agree with you.

[elleng]

2. At least, he'll learn what they're thinking of.

Important, imo.

[Noisy Democrat]

3. I agree

I'm not saying that I'm sure everything that gets discussed is harmless. I expect these days, they spend a lot of time talking about how to avoid another worldwide Great Depression -- unless of course there are some members who would make a fortune off of another Depression. But if JK is there, that makes it seem less likely to me that some of the *really* out-there conspiracy theories are true. And if ideas are being proposed that would be really, really bad for the U.S., I'm glad JK may be in a position to get wind of things.

[Jumping John]

4. John Kerry - if that is who you are referring to - attended in 2012 but I

can find no evidence for him being there in 2011 or 2010.

I got that info from:

http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings.html

Just in case you want to let your conspiracy theorist friend know.

[Noisy Democrat]

6. Yeah, I'd forgotten which years he'd been there

but I didn't think this was the first year he was going.

And yes, in this group, we often refer to him as JK. Actually, a lot of people in Massachusetts do as well.

[patrice]

5. He's a good debater, so even though the rarified culture of his wealth is different

from ours, I trust his ability to, if not empathize, at least understand issues pretty well.

[politicasista]

7. That was

me.

Wasn't trying to start any drama, just curious. Decided not to start a new thread because it was probably nothing and it was a busy Father's Day weekend.

Hope you are doing well. Peace.

[Noisy Democrat]

8. I had actually heard about it from my friend

the conspiracy theorist. I looked it up and told her that if JK goes, that makes Bilderberg sound less sinister to me. Then I saw your question. I think it's a reasonable question to ask in this group, even if it wasn't on the right thread. At the very least, it's good for Kerry supporters to keep up with this stuff, so that we won't be blindsided when an anti-Kerry person breathlessly asks "And did you know...?"

[politicasista]

9. Very much co-sign

meaning agree with your post.

Had never heard it mentioned much in the K group, but there was a post in LBN about it the other day, so didn't know if it was some secret conspiracy group or something related to foreign policy. At least it has been mentioned now.