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What power ...?
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Exactly
He has influence but zero political power
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Ultimately, of course, power resides with the American people. Musk’s power comes from his ownership of capital, but the way he exercises it is fundamentally a democratic one — if he’s able to primary Congressional Republicans, it’s because his primary challengers are able to win votes, and if he’s able to start a rage-mob on X, it’s because people like what he says.
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Political donations are protected under the First Amendment. Donations are speech.
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sure, Jen :D
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11 sats \ 6 replies \ @galt 22 Dec
If you are upset about Elon musk power, remember it comes from taxpayer money (state subsidies) and the money printer (stock ownership)
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Disappointing to see more than a few SN users object to reducing the size of government because they have a personal vendetta against Elon
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You're misinterpreting my stance, second account of wingalt.
Typical Reddit disease, always assuming the worst.
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What is your stance? What is the correct interpretation?
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I like engaging with interesting ideas - no matter if I have an opinion on it or not. It's totally okay to not have an opinion on everything.
I think there are many interesting thoughts in the substack post. On one hand Elon is unelected and exercising much power. On the other hand Mr Trump is president elect and has a mandate in the democracy. I think this legitimizes Elons specific decisions because as long as the elected official approves, there is a mandate. It's nontheless a transitive property that's fun to play around in your head for half an hour or so.
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Elon is a private citizen with a lot of influence.
It's like saying a social media influencer has too much power, how do we check and balance her?
edit: Valerie Jarrett was unelected and a close advisor to Obama. No one asked how do we check and balance her.
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You are projecting. Your views are consistent with the ideology of Reddit
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This is a good piece that's worth reading beyond just the actual (deliberately provocative) subject line. His point about the "real Elon" and "Evil Elon" is interesting. I'm not sure I agree with his conclusion that people would just get sick of Elon if he crosses a line, and I think he's underestimating Twitter's power (not that many people using it doesn't take into account that certain things from it get amplified everywhere). But it's an optimistic view (the notion that people really aren't suckers), and better than the other alternative he mentions, the idea that only other oligarchs could provide any sort of check.
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I've been checking him. And I am not liking what I am seeing. He's a douchebag. A distraction.
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Kamala supporter
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Ohhhh no. Not even close. I don't support any of them. Why does my not liking Elon mean that I support Kamala to you? You are feeding into the stupid us vs them narrative. Its all a scam.
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You are reciting corporate media talking points
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What did I say that was a corporate media talking point. I don't watch the news so you will have to let me know.
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Elon is a douche bag and distraction.
Google is also corporate media. Plus New York Times and WSJ and Washington Post. WaPo has always been overrated including Woodward and Bernstein
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I agree. I don't support any of them. I trust myself.
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