[ExI] As Fears of A.I. Catastrophe Magnify, Washington Stirs, but Mostly Slumbers

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> 
Sent: Sunday, 13 September, 2026 12:25 PM
To: spike at rainier66.com
Cc: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Subject: Re: [ExI] As Fears of A.I. Catastrophe Magnify, Washington Stirs, but Mostly Slumbers

 

 

 

On Sun, Sep 13, 2026 at 11:25 AM <spike at rainier66.com <mailto:spike at rainier66.com> > wrote:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/us/politics/ai-catastrophe-fears-washington.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A1E.IcDp.A19Wf-9dpwqu <https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/us/politics/ai-catastrophe-fears-washington.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A1E.IcDp.A19Wf-9dpwqu&smid=em-share> &smid=em-share

 

> Here we see an exhibit of the NYT failing to understand the constitution. 

 

Now you're just being silly.  

 

> …  POTUS cannot enforce law that doesn’t exist.  POTUS is only a president, not a king. 

 

As I said just a few days ago on September 8:  

 

>…"Your knee-jerk defense of Donald is fundamentally always the same….

 

Notice I didn’t mention any particular POTUS.  It applies equally to all of them.  POTUS cannot enforce a law that does not exist.  AI law doesn’t exist, and I predict that a law on AI will not exist in the easily foreseeable.  POTUS has no role here.  That is a defense of no one.

…

 

>…Like it or not in today's world no law gets passed and no industry gets regulated if Donald doesn't want that to happen…

 

POTUS must sign off on a law that congress passes.  But congress has passed no laws on AI.  So… your observation, even if true, is irrelevant.  POTUSes (past, present and future) have no role in regulating AI, unless congress acts first.  Hint: congress will not act first, and will likely not act at all.  

 

>… I'm not complaining because in this particular case, and I know this sounds incredible but .... Donald is right! John K Clark

 

 

OK where are you holding John?  Hand over the ransom note.  We will pass the hat over on ExI, probably raise several hundred dollars, if you agree to not torture him.  Beyond the normal amount.  Right or wrong, it isn’t POTUS’ call.  The Chevron decision of June 2024 verified that.  Congress appears to have no clue on how to regulate AI.  This is a good thing.  The legal system just can’t move at the speed of technology.

 

spike

 

 

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