If Congress can’t go a seamless decision to fund the federal authorities by Sunday, Republicans may have brought about yet one more authorities shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson seemed to be keen to work with the Democrats to make one thing occur, the Washington Publish reviews, however then Elon Musk began tweeting, and earlier than we knew it, the persevering with decision was lifeless. It wasn’t only one tweet, both. Musk spent hours trashing the invoice, posting one thing like 70 occasions in an try to cease its passage. In the end, he was profitable, however that does increase one necessary query — Who the heck is operating Tesla whereas Musk performs president?
Final we heard, Tesla was not a automotive firm and had, as a substitute, been reworked into an AI/robotics firm that was going to resolve autonomy within the close to future. That’s a giant deal, and it looks like one thing that licensed mega-genius Elon Musk must be focusing all of his consideration on. He’s bought different firms to run, too, however for those who take him at his phrase, as soon as Tesla solves autonomy and begins promoting private robots to each single individual on the earth, it’s going to flip right into a multi-trillion-dollar enterprise that’s so worthwhile, cash will primarily grow to be irrelevant. Shouldn’t Musk be centered on making that occur?
Nope, as a substitute, he’s dictating home coverage by pressuring lawmakers into doing what he needs. Which he can do, apparently, as a result of there are successfully no limits on how a lot cash the rich can spend in elections, and in the event that they don’t do what he says, he can merely fund main challenges towards them in 2026. Isn’t it nice that the wealthy and highly effective can do no matter they need, intervene in politics at any time when they need and guarantee they get tax cuts whereas elevating taxes on common working folks?
Don’t fear, although, Elon might have misplaced his gajillion-dollar pay bundle once more, however he nonetheless plans to combat to get that again on enchantment. You realize, as a result of he’s working so onerous at Tesla, each day and evening, and actually does deserve so as to add one other $50 billion to a fortune that already makes him the wealthiest man who has ever lived. In all seriousness, although, if the Supreme Court docket wasn’t principally made up of partisan hacks who’re joyful to twist the legislation to be no matter they need it to be, would anybody truly purchase Musk’s argument that he deserves this bonus? Aren’t CEOs an integral half to a enterprise’ success? If they’re, then how is Tesla going to perform whereas its chief runs the nation from his Twitter account?
The following nevertheless a few years are going to be simply nice as we watch the wealthy strip our democracy for elements, enriching themselves and screwing over the remainder of us. And whereas Trump can be an necessary a part of that, Musk is the one with the cash, which provides him an unimaginable quantity of affect although nobody voted for him, and the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity is nothing greater than an advisory committee with no actual energy. Apparently, that’s additionally extra necessary than something Tesla is doing, too. As a result of the person actually isn’t centered on fixing autonomy proper now.
Whereas rich oligarchs like Musk might have cash and energy, it’s necessary to do not forget that there are extra of us than there are of them, they usually want us way over we want them. It received’t be simple, however we don’t have to only sit again and let the rich trample throughout us. On the very least, we are able to band collectively and conform to cease shopping for Teslas. Musk wants these gross sales to prop up his meme inventory and keep his affect over the nation, however he can’t pressure anybody to purchase one. Within the meantime, let’s all make sure you help the Amazon employees who’re standing as much as Musk’s billionaire buddy Jeff Bezos. They aren’t going to take the abuse anymore, and neither ought to any of us.
