In 1999, a Salon magazine feature profiled an emerging entrepreneur hardly anybody had heard of. Reading it today is like looking at Elon Musk's DOGE playbook.
Great piece. Love Sam Harris. I hope your readers check him out, too. Regardless where you source your material, the facts are clear to see. The laws are being broken. And, for what? The propaganda about how this is in the name of efficiency is the magic bullet believers want. But, how can you cut and destroy major programs in a few weeks and pretend you have any idea WHAT you've cut and the possible waste you've removed without thoughtful research. Much less the irreparable harm you've done.
Again, you do a survey of ick inducing texts so I can scan quickly and confirm my concerns. (yes, I spend a lot of time in my land of confirmation bias, I don't have the fortitude for deep digging into this human's white supremacist ego.) I joined Twitter, very reluctantly, about 12 years ago in order to track the news my students were exposed to and using in their research. I walked away when Musk disrespected the ADL (seems odd now in context of latest ADL/Musk news.) What I keep imagining, as a high school teacher, is how history text book creators will illustrate a press conference with a private citizen in a baseball cap next to a dozey prez at the Resolute Desk? Musk adds a unique gross style of the stagey, yuck inducing villain to the robber baron archetype. The only reason I note his horrible acts is because I really do worry, will government of the people, by the people, for the people survive his self interested, white supremacist plundering?
Yes. There are big potential conflicts of interest here. Gotta keep an eye on that. But so far, everything that is being proposed hurts Tesla big time. The reversal of the Trump administration regarding the electrification of the auto industry, the likely pull back on the Biden initiative of 500K charging stations, the likely loss of government subsidies for electric vehicles (read Tesla) is just the opposite of what you speculate. I know. Inconvenient. But he way, Matt do you only read left wing publications such Salon. Is that your only world view?
Perhaps pay more attention to the real threat of our constitutional republic: the rise of an unaccountable administrative state, populated by "nonpartisan expert bureaucrats" (LOL) unaccountable to the people, whose existence is nowheres within our Constitutional framework.
Tesla is set in September to get a $400 million contract with the Department of Defense. On Wednesday, when reports came out about it, the DoD changed the document, removing Tesla's name, and replaced the line item with "armored electric vehicles."
Again from what I read (and who knows what is true or not these days) the truck proposal started under the Biden administration. Due to the obvious "conflict of interest" issues raised it has not been signed either under a Tesla agreement of an "armored electric vehicle" contract. Either way, this pales in comparison to what Trump is proposing or has already done:
"Trump's EO, entitled "Unleashing American Energy,'' revokes a non-binding goal set by Biden that EVs make up half of new cars sold by 2030. The order also seeks to terminate a federal exemption that allows California to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. The federal waiver is important not only to California but also to more than a dozen other states that follow its nation-leading standards on vehicle emissions.
Language in the order and others issued by Trump on Monday indicate he is likely to seek to repeal a $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases approved by Congress as part of Biden's landmark 2022 climate law, as well as roll back Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency rules to tighten limits on greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution from passenger and commercial vehicles."
If the above really does go into effect, none of this can possibly help Tesla. The $400M is peanuts compared to the monetary effects of the above policy which basically reverse the direction of the whole EV industry. Furthermore EVs will never ever replace ICE vehicles unless there is a reliable and extensive charging station infrastructure across the country. That was the point of the 500K charging stations under Biden of which at most 200 have been built. Now all monies for that project
have been frozen.
My point? I withhold judgment. If all of a sudden all these industry destroying policies by the Trump administration are suddenly and magically reversed, then I'll agree. But if not, then not.
Tesla? No. Starlink is what Musk is after. Your comment, "Yes. There are big potential conflicts of interest here. Gotta keep an eye on that." What does that mean? Who will keep eye on that and what will they do?
Ultimately what my statement means, is the people keep an eye out via an unbiased free press (so old fashioned), via an internet, via a vigorous first amendment and ultimately then an election. As Obama said elections have consequences. And you lost. You don't like it? There is 2026 and then 2028.
Good points, Bruce. And yet Tesla stock shot up after the election. And, b/c Musk and Tesla have a better, running start against the other auto companies, these measures will do more harm to his competitors.
So yes, these measures will likely harm Musk's competitors as well. But they sure as hell have not helped Tesla. And Musk's association with DOGE has singularly hurt Tesla. Tesla stock is down 100 points since this Feb. post. Tesla's market value has shed over $400B.
I'm good with what's gone on so far. Way overdue if you ask me. Too much unaccounted for spending as well as operations outside of what should be done. Look at the FEMA 59 billion dollar disbursement after the president said not to do that anymore. Or Senator Ernst's getting stonewalled when inquiring on these expenditures. I'm not sure who tf these people think they are. They don't like it, they don't agree with it, too goddam bad about it. In two and four years the voters will weigh in on whether or not it continues.
Great piece. Love Sam Harris. I hope your readers check him out, too. Regardless where you source your material, the facts are clear to see. The laws are being broken. And, for what? The propaganda about how this is in the name of efficiency is the magic bullet believers want. But, how can you cut and destroy major programs in a few weeks and pretend you have any idea WHAT you've cut and the possible waste you've removed without thoughtful research. Much less the irreparable harm you've done.
Again, you do a survey of ick inducing texts so I can scan quickly and confirm my concerns. (yes, I spend a lot of time in my land of confirmation bias, I don't have the fortitude for deep digging into this human's white supremacist ego.) I joined Twitter, very reluctantly, about 12 years ago in order to track the news my students were exposed to and using in their research. I walked away when Musk disrespected the ADL (seems odd now in context of latest ADL/Musk news.) What I keep imagining, as a high school teacher, is how history text book creators will illustrate a press conference with a private citizen in a baseball cap next to a dozey prez at the Resolute Desk? Musk adds a unique gross style of the stagey, yuck inducing villain to the robber baron archetype. The only reason I note his horrible acts is because I really do worry, will government of the people, by the people, for the people survive his self interested, white supremacist plundering?
Yes. There are big potential conflicts of interest here. Gotta keep an eye on that. But so far, everything that is being proposed hurts Tesla big time. The reversal of the Trump administration regarding the electrification of the auto industry, the likely pull back on the Biden initiative of 500K charging stations, the likely loss of government subsidies for electric vehicles (read Tesla) is just the opposite of what you speculate. I know. Inconvenient. But he way, Matt do you only read left wing publications such Salon. Is that your only world view?
Perhaps pay more attention to the real threat of our constitutional republic: the rise of an unaccountable administrative state, populated by "nonpartisan expert bureaucrats" (LOL) unaccountable to the people, whose existence is nowheres within our Constitutional framework.
Tesla is set in September to get a $400 million contract with the Department of Defense. On Wednesday, when reports came out about it, the DoD changed the document, removing Tesla's name, and replaced the line item with "armored electric vehicles."
Again from what I read (and who knows what is true or not these days) the truck proposal started under the Biden administration. Due to the obvious "conflict of interest" issues raised it has not been signed either under a Tesla agreement of an "armored electric vehicle" contract. Either way, this pales in comparison to what Trump is proposing or has already done:
"Trump's EO, entitled "Unleashing American Energy,'' revokes a non-binding goal set by Biden that EVs make up half of new cars sold by 2030. The order also seeks to terminate a federal exemption that allows California to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. The federal waiver is important not only to California but also to more than a dozen other states that follow its nation-leading standards on vehicle emissions.
Language in the order and others issued by Trump on Monday indicate he is likely to seek to repeal a $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases approved by Congress as part of Biden's landmark 2022 climate law, as well as roll back Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency rules to tighten limits on greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution from passenger and commercial vehicles."
If the above really does go into effect, none of this can possibly help Tesla. The $400M is peanuts compared to the monetary effects of the above policy which basically reverse the direction of the whole EV industry. Furthermore EVs will never ever replace ICE vehicles unless there is a reliable and extensive charging station infrastructure across the country. That was the point of the 500K charging stations under Biden of which at most 200 have been built. Now all monies for that project
have been frozen.
My point? I withhold judgment. If all of a sudden all these industry destroying policies by the Trump administration are suddenly and magically reversed, then I'll agree. But if not, then not.
Tesla? No. Starlink is what Musk is after. Your comment, "Yes. There are big potential conflicts of interest here. Gotta keep an eye on that." What does that mean? Who will keep eye on that and what will they do?
Good question Marty.
Ultimately what my statement means, is the people keep an eye out via an unbiased free press (so old fashioned), via an internet, via a vigorous first amendment and ultimately then an election. As Obama said elections have consequences. And you lost. You don't like it? There is 2026 and then 2028.
Good points, Bruce. And yet Tesla stock shot up after the election. And, b/c Musk and Tesla have a better, running start against the other auto companies, these measures will do more harm to his competitors.
So yes, these measures will likely harm Musk's competitors as well. But they sure as hell have not helped Tesla. And Musk's association with DOGE has singularly hurt Tesla. Tesla stock is down 100 points since this Feb. post. Tesla's market value has shed over $400B.
I'm good with what's gone on so far. Way overdue if you ask me. Too much unaccounted for spending as well as operations outside of what should be done. Look at the FEMA 59 billion dollar disbursement after the president said not to do that anymore. Or Senator Ernst's getting stonewalled when inquiring on these expenditures. I'm not sure who tf these people think they are. They don't like it, they don't agree with it, too goddam bad about it. In two and four years the voters will weigh in on whether or not it continues.