After this's all over, I hope the U.S. gov't bills Trump for the damage he's done to our reputation

[TheTransient]

Musk is the best grifter of my lifetime - a dipshit rich kid who tripped over his dick into dotcom 1.0 money and takes credit for other peoples' work.

He's Mark Cuban with an art-school girlfriend and no NBA ring.

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/12/30/cuomos-subway-savior-elon-musk-spent-all-weekend-tweeting-about-inventing-the-subway/

These are the rocks bouncing around in Musk's head, if it wasn't 2020 you'd have a serious question about whether or not he had syphilis eating into his brain.

Grimes really is the epitome of "art-school school girlfriend" tho

I mean sure, the guy has said some studid shit on the Twitter, but who hasn't in this day and age? I have seen comparisons to Howard Hughes, and I would tend to agree them that Elon Musk is the Howard Hughes of our time. Keep in mind, later in life Howard Hughes was an eccentric obsessive-compulsive shut-in who watched his own films on repeat for months on end, naked in hotel rooms pissing into bottles and eating steaks. So honestly, I think we are doing ok at this point.

Elon Musk and his companies are progressing science and technology, and as long as he is able to keep pushing forward, we as a species will benefit from it. That's sort of impact is nothing to scoff at, and it'd be willfuly ignorant not to recognise/accept that. Or should we just keep consuming fossil fuels and burning coal for energy, destroying the planet, all the while paying coal/oil mining company CEOs for the privilege? At least the man is doing something productive.

[jirodreamsofdank]

Electric cars aren't an answer to anything we're facing (nor are billionaire fantasies about Mars colonies) given the resources required to build them, the coal-fired (and nuclear and etc.) plants providing the juice - particularly in Musk's case with his open hostility to mass transit. More high speed rail, more subways and tram lines and more bicycles (and infrastructure that increases the viability of all of them).

[jrfox92]

But it doesn't make any sense to expect the exec of a car and space company to do something about that?

Public transportation should never be the business of private corporations. It isn't really billionaires' jobs, or responsibility, to fix society or government. It's one thing when they use their money to create legislature that not only benefits them, but hinders societal progress, but outside of that I don't have any fucking expectations for them to do anything to better society. When a billionaire decides they want to try to do stuff that's progressive, that's nice, but I just can't find a reason to give a shit when they decide that they'd rather spend their money on dumb rich kid shit or their time dicking around on twitter.

If Elon wants to progress alternative power, cool. If he want to make a colony on mars, cool. If he wants to spend his money creating a literal island of cocaine, cool. If people don't like him, don't buy shit from tesla or spacex, then?

[Blackened Soul]

But it doesn't make any sense to expect the exec of a car and space company to do something about that?

Public transportation should never be the business of private corporations. It isn't really billionaires' jobs, or responsibility, to fix society or government. It's one thing when they use their money to create legislature that not only benefits them, but hinders societal progress, but outside of that I don't have any fucking expectations for them to do anything to better society.

Sadly you forget this 'merka... 'merka actually elected Trump: 'merka = only billionaires know what's what. Until it's too late...

On the other hand, I am all for sending billionaires into space.. once they fail and want to come back we can build a space wall to keep them out or something.

[jrfox92]

Good point.
I guess the simplest to put my view is that I tend to prefer the idea of a separation between corporations and the state.
You tax the corporations in order to fund public services, as you do everyone else that's part of society, and they can do what they want otherwise as long as it's legal. No "companies have a moral mandate to do x", no "billionaires have a moral mandate to do y". As long as they pay what they owe society and as long as they aren't a clear detriment to society (like, not following environmental regulations or basic rules for employment, etc.), they should be free to do whatever the fuck they want. I'll admit that, for the most part, they probably don't even do those basic things, so.

[chromandre]

yeah no elons a douche. its inherently immoral to be this egregiously rich and hes has zero self awareness, on le joe rogan centrist experience, smoked a huge blunt and said (actual quote) "you just wouldn't want to be me" like he was about to cry about this. also he didnt even get rich off science or vaguely tech, he got rich off paypal. hes a banker living out a midlife crisis of remote control gadgets and a gf half his age.

[jirodreamsofdank]

But it doesn't make any sense to expect the exec of a car and space company to do something about that?

Why not?

Public transportation should never be the business of private corporations.

No, it shouldn't - but private interests actively do harm to the concept of public transportation, and have for over a century. Musk is just another in the line. The point is that we don't consign transportation to private corporations.

It isn't really billionaires' jobs, or responsibility, to fix society or government.

Sure it is. They only exist because of society and the government - from the FDIC to the courts that enforce their contracts to the roads that Teslas drive on to the police that keep me from burning down Musk's mansion.
"You're a billionaire so you don't think moral or ethical codes apply - and I agree with that!" is a pretty awful worldview.

If Elon wants to progress alternative power, cool. If he want to make a colony on mars, cool. If he wants to spend his money creating a literal island of cocaine, cool. If people don't like him, don't buy shit from tesla or spacex, then?

This is an incredibly naive view of how society and the economy work. Libertarians, in general, have a tough time dealing with the concept of soft power. There are other forms of hierarchy and authority out there than just jackbooted thugs with guns.

[TheTransient]

Electric cars aren't an answer to anything we're facing (nor are billionaire fantasies about Mars colonies) given the resources required to build them, the coal-fired (and nuclear and etc.) plants providing the juice - particularly in Musk's case with his open hostility to mass transit. More high speed rail, more subways and tram lines and more bicycles (and infrastructure that increases the viability of all of them).

Electric cars are part of the answer though, the generation of green renewable electricity is another. Of course it takes resources to create anything, but better those resources be spent on tech that will cause less environmental impact over the course of its life. Tesla is also in the business of green energy creation and storage. Granted it is fairly small scale on that front at this time, but it's there, and it could certainly grow. There are also the large scale battery installations being paired with solar farms. None of this solves everything, buts its a start. Selling fancy electric cars to other rich folks is the start of a long process of making them available to the average consumer. You think the first computers, the kind that took up whole room, were instantly available to the average punter? Hell no. But look at us now, using them to talk about politics and ideology on a "boutique musical toy box forum". Aint it a wonderful thing!

As far as public transport goes, basically what jrfox92 said. It isn't job to fix public transport, yet technological developments he makes on other projects will potentially be applicable to public transport in one form or another, you never know.

When a billionaire decides they want to try to do stuff that's progressive, that's nice, but I just can't find a reason to give a shit when they decide that they'd rather spend their money on dumb rich kid shit or their time dicking around on twitter.

If Elon wants to progress alternative power, cool. If he want to make a colony on mars, cool. If he wants to spend his money creating a literal island of cocaine, cool. If people don't like him, don't buy shit from tesla or spacex, then?

And thats the crux of it, he could literally be spending it on an island of cocaine, but he isnt. He's progressing alternative power AND dicking around on Twitter. That's gotta count for something.

yeah no elons a douche. its inherently immoral to be this egregiously rich and hes has zero self awareness, on le joe rogan centrist experience, smoked a huge blunt and said (actual quote) "you just wouldn't want to be me" like he was about to cry about this. also he didnt even get rich off science or vaguely tech, he got rich off paypal. hes a banker living out a midlife crisis of remote control gadgets and a gf half his age.

He got rich off of web-development, which I would argue is tech. More importantly, what did he do with all that money from Paypal once he got it? Started science and tech companies. Thats obviously his passion. He's clearly kind of an awkward guy, but hey, he's ultimately human. You could argue that being that rich is wrong, and in many cases, on many levels, I would agree (not super keen on Bezos), but as far as billionaires go, once again, Musk is at least doing something productive with this money.




Also, side note, Grimes just announces she's pregnant

[jrfox92]

It isn't really billionaires' jobs, or responsibility, to fix society or government.

Sure it is. They only exist because of society and the government - from the FDIC to the courts that enforce their contracts to the roads that Teslas drive on to the police that keep me from burning down Musk's mansion.
"You're a billionaire so you don't think moral or ethical codes apply - and I agree with that!" is a pretty awful worldview.

So...what you're saying is, not only should billionaires be regulated and taxed, they should also follow your personal rules on how to live their lives and spend their money?
If that's your view, fine, whatever.
My view is that nobody should ever be subject to anyone else's moral or ethical codes beyond those set by the law. Billionaires. Homeless. Middle class. Doesn't matter. People have the right to do whatever they want as private citizens as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others.

If Elon wants to progress alternative power, cool. If he want to make a colony on mars, cool. If he wants to spend his money creating a literal island of cocaine, cool. If people don't like him, don't buy shit from tesla or spacex, then?

This is an incredibly naive view of how society and the economy work. Libertarians, in general, have a tough time dealing with the concept of soft power. There are other forms of hierarchy and authority out there than just jackbooted thugs with guns.

I understand that's not how things work right now. But my point was that you seem to want the government to force rich people to do what the government should be doing.
To reiterate: rich people shouldn't control the government, agreed. But, rich people shouldn't be forced to spend their money on what the government thinks they should spend it on. Rich people should be taxed so that they put back into society what they gain from it, companies should be regulated and taxed for the same reasons. Outside of that, they should be able to do whatever the fuck they want within the confines of the law.

[jirodreamsofdank]

So...what you're saying is, not only should billionaires be regulated and taxed, they should also follow your personal rules on how to live their lives and spend their money?
If that's your view, fine, whatever.
My view is that nobody should ever be subject to anyone else's moral or ethical codes beyond those set by the law.

What do you think the law is aside from "subjecting others to moral or ethical codes"? There is no natural or God-given rule that says murder is wrong or rape is wrong or running pyramid schemes is wrong. Societies decide these things and create the structures to enforce those codes.

Conversely, the law is often wrong and fucked up - the drug war, civil forfeiture... slavery.

I understand that's not how things work right now. But my point was that you seem to want the government to force rich people to do what the government should be doing.

You're missing a key part: 'rich' people (we'll start with billionaires and adjust from there) shouldn't exist. But as long as we're going to let a handful of people control far more wealth and power than anyone else because of birth, luck or committing immoral acts that happen to be legal, yes, I'm going to want them to do things that are good instead of things that are bad. When they don't do things that are good, I'm not going to just toss up my hands and say 'welp, that's the way it is.'

[Achtane]

Make America Guillotine Aristocrats

[Gone Fission]

Make America Guillotine Aristocrats

Where can I buy this hat?

[TheTransient]

In amongst the bushfires and whatnot, another big thing that happened here in Aus is this whole shitshow...


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-13/ ... s/11861762

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-13/ ... s/11863096



The TL:DR is a public library in Brisbane had a drag queen storytime session for kids crashed by a bunch of Young-Liberals (equivalent to your Young Republicans etc) fuckheads who felt that two people in drag reading to kids was unacceptable. They interrupted the session by chanting homophobic slurs and protested loudly and aggressively in front of the children, who were scared and upset by most accounts I have read. One of the teenagers who led the protest then offed himself after the backlash. Said teenager was also openly-gay, yet incredibly conservative and actively campaigned against gay marriage when that was up for the vote. Pretty fucking baffling, but then I guess you have people like Milo Yiannopoulos who also fit that sort of description.


I actually work in a public library, in an area of town with a mostly older, well-off, fairly conservative demographic no less (aka Boomer-central). Now I hadn't actually heard about this drag queen storytime program/idea until this story broke, but I am kinda bummed because it actually sounded like a really cool thing to run! It was likely going to be controversial thing to put on where I work before, but honestly, this makes running that kind of program in the future pretty much impossible...

[Dapper Bandit]

Drag Queen Storytime seems to have a full road crew of shitheads on tour wherever it may pop up. Independent book stores have been trashed over it. Because children should never be exposed to such horrific things as nice dresses, pretty makeup and stories about love and equality amirite?

If only people could realise that we all have more in common than we have differences. We all came from cum and an egg. We're all going to die. All this shit inbetween we're just trying to get through as not-miserable as possible.


Also, billionaires shouldn't exist. The world doesn't need them.

[Gone Fission]

Also, billionaires shouldn't exist. The world doesn't need them.

Incorrect. Billionaires are delicious and should be roasted to feed the poor every national holiday.