Recently, Elon Musk made headlines when he allegedly refused to enable Starlink—a satellite internet service from SpaceX—to support a Ukrainian attack on Russia, thwarting military plans. Has one civilian's power grown too immense? With no elected position, military training, or official diplomatic role, his access and influence raise important concerns. When is 'enough' truly enough? https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-ukraine
On a planet where resources, air, water, & arable land does not "double every five years", how does Ron Baron expect to double his money?
Freezing wages in 1970's?
Doubling prices during crises?
Ending democracy?
Supporting genocidal wars on Ukraine?
Playing both sides & getting paid by both?
Prolonging a profitable pandemic in hopes of more taxpayer bailouts?
@georgetakei What I do not get - is why not use all the other alternatives?
What would the military use high speed low latency network for?
What is it that StarLink can do that they need to bad?
Decent Radio Modems have existed for 40+ year. Other satellite providers exist - ships use them.
We are giving Elon the power - he is not taking it or creating it.
@georgetakei
This is a dumb issue. If you don't want a capitalist to turn off their cool space toys that you need to do your war killing, maybe use your own space toys and don't rely on things you don't own. Or nationalize them. Or don't do war things. #capitalism#warpigs
@georgetakei no worries, the financial inflationary policy of the world, which allowed the rise of Elon Musk with sheer unlimited money for all sorts of fantasies, is soon coming to an end and Elon will receive his reward: being in prison as a Theranos-style scam-artist
@georgetakei
He did not "turn it off". Crimea is under US sanctions because of the Russian occupation, and thus Starlink is not authorized to operate in that area. The Ukrainians asked for it to be turned on, but the request has to come from the US, stating an exception to the sanctions.
@georgetakei It's Musk's company, so it's not for me to say. What is for me to say is not supporting his companies, including moving away from Twitter. Glad you are here @georgetakei
@georgetakei it is insane that the USA hasnt assumed control of that satellite network yet. the owner can be easily recompensed by a lighter prison sentence for supporting russian terrorism campaign.
@georgetakei Small but important note: It was not about an attack on Russia. Starlink was deactivated/not turned on/whatever by Musk to prevent an attack against occupying forces on the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
@georgetakei there is a simple rule if any inftrastructure becomes dependent on a single company or a group of people with similar interest (e.g. a family or political party) that has to be given to the public as a whole. Be it drinking water, streets, commnunication, ports, electricity grids,… It has to be organized by the public for the public and may not be used to generate profits.
Is he a shitheel for doing that? Yes.
Is he within his rights to deny access to his property to anyone for any reason? Yes.
Do we need to like it? No.
Can/Should we do anything about it? No.
Anything we think we can/should do to Elon for not supporting the Ukraine will be used against us by other fascists using the justification that we did it first. It is also entirely possible that this is why he did it. Admittedly, that is giving him far too much credit...
It all starts with Eat The Rich. Excess money yields excess power.
We gave him the power thru subsidies and contracts, we being the US government. We gave him the power by not pursuing punishment for him when he violated SEC rules, when he welched on debts, when he engaged in rank anit-semitism...
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