The Cost of Buying The US Government was $288M
- Thread starter twenty02
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I agree with this. However, it runs head long into the mantra that government can’t do anything well and we shouldn’t try and make it better. Musk et al brought a flamethrower, not a plan.
Gotta see a doc about that. Sleep is very, very important.
I need to stop doing deals with international parties. The stress, the time zone differences, process differences...
Just make sure when you get your number, you actually ****ing retire man.
I did a lot of business with China in the evening, their morning. Made the following day a lot less stressful.
Yeah it sucks. Our factory is in Sialkot Pakistan. It’s 11 here and 10:30 at night there. There’s always a disconnect on projects as one side is always waiting
What about the language differences?
Got to admire those whose second language is English and they are more articulate in English than I am.
That's why I would do it. Got stuff done in real time. Ticked off the boxes quickly.
We have a project manager there all night to coordinate with but the actual work is never real time. So we have to wait until night time or the next morning. I hate it
No, really. What, exactly, is Musk getting? Are you one of these tinfoil hat guys who thinks Musk is secretly rooting around in the IRS, SS, housing data to create some evil plan to rule the world? Or is it access to something to help his various businesses get more contracts?
He wants more money and power. His “rooting around” is helping him gain strategic advantages over his competitors.
Power. Pure, unadulterated power. Must be a helluva drug.
And the ability to convince the world that he's working for its betterment and that it was all his idea/plan. Ego. No way it's anything other than Power and Ego.
Again, as long as he's benevolent.............
I think people are more complex than that. I think power and ego for sure but I also think he’s a genius and interested. Rescuing astronauts. Bringing internet to disaster areas. I think he’s a pretty complex guy
Extremely but he also wants everyone to know it was him. Ego. But, I get it.
AS LONG AS HE'S BENEVOLENT.....
Are you saying he hasn't tried to use it to his benefit?
Of course he’s a genius. No one is disputing that. But genius isn’t always a positive.
And he’s interested alright. Interested in himself. His “charitable” giving, for example, is pocket change to him (he donated less for all of 2022 than he often makes in a day) and mostly directed at causes that further his business interests.
People are complex. I guarantee you he thinks his contribution to the world far eclipses any donor dollars attributable to him or anyone else
Ok, so ego we don't care about, right? As for "power," it appears his power is in suggesting governmental expenditures to shut down or review. Is that right?
He's a human being. He's a mix of benevolent and not. John Ames and Col. Aureliano Buendia all rolled into one.
Everyone has an ego. Look how many nonprofit EDs are trying to win awards. Ever sat on a board and discussed their pay.
Woulda rather gotten Jose Arcadio's deal but, alas.
I care about all of it. I hate having billionaire overlords but this is the system we seem to want SINCE WE KEEP ****ING VOTING FOR IT.
Also, "it appears his power is in suggesting governmental expenditures to shut down or review. Is that right?". That's a pretty ****ing big kind of power when you're talking about the United States Federal government. He's also smart enough to know that, in America (especially recently), it's really the only true path to power (money). And, cutting is it's own form of political power. Reforming is a wholly different thing. And far more labor intensive than I suspect he's going to want to see through. However, he CAN create a foundation.
Please be benevolent Elon. Yes, it's sad that America has descended into hoping our current billionaire overlord (since he won) will be nice to us.
How is that linked to his work at DOGE? If he wanted a sweetheart deal from the Trump admin for Tesla, why would the DOGE thing be necessary?
And, from the article:
In a statement to NPR on Monday, a State Department spokesperson said the $400 million figure was "an estimate," pointing out that it was in the early stages and was not yet a full contract, but rather a proposal "strictly to gather information."
The department spokesman added: "the Department of State has no intention to move forward with the solicitation."
In a Feb. 13 post on his social media platform, X, Musk, who is also a top White House official, said: "I'm pretty sure Tesla isn't getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least."
yes, but the words "the appearance of impropriety"
Should Elon be held to the same standard as federal judges?
Canon 2A - "An appearance of impropriety occurs when reasonable minds, with knowledge of all the relevant circumstances disclosed by a reasonable inquiry, would conclude that the judge’s honesty, integrity, impartiality, temperament, or fitness to serve as a judge is impaired. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges, including harassment and other inappropriate workplace behavior. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. This prohibition applies to both professional and personal conduct. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny and accept freely and willingly restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen. Because it is not practicable to list all prohibited acts, the prohibition is necessarily cast in general terms that extend to conduct by judges that is harmful although not specifically mentioned in the Code."
Is Elon ready for the bolded part?
So you think Trump--the narcissistic, ego maniacal, immoral, inhuman, facist dictator.--is "giving up" all this power to Musk?
I don't think that standard translates to the political branches very well.
Re: Trump - yes. As long as he gets some creidt and gets to slap his name on some shit and hold rallies. Hell yeah.
I can agree with your last statment but the power Musk has is far greater than any Senator or Rep. Or even a Cabinet member. Look, the Musk thing is ****ing weird and never really occurred in a previous administration. Shit, we used to clown on Bush 2 thinking Cheney was a puppet master. We blew past that Rubicon during election season this time.
I don’t like billionaires having that influence either.
I disagree with you re the power Musk actually has. Everything he does must be approved by a cabinet official or the president at the end of the day. If you need someone else's approval, your power is limited.
But you're right: this whole Musk thing and how he's going about it is unprecedented. And, in some cases, destructive and inefficient.
The ultra rich always have influence, in any system.
He’s got conflicts up the wazoo. But he’s expected to self-report. And/or Trump will call him out on them. LMAO.
I’m a believer in the “Iron Law of Oligarchy”.
All societies, even Democracies eventually drift towards Oligarchic.
Citation or link to the best version of that theory?
You notice how none of Elons contracts have been touched.
I'm sure they haven't gotten to those yet.
