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In the realm of public affairs, there’s a recognizable dichotomy between those who generate value and those who consume it. Elon Musk, the visionary pioneer, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the government advocate, illustrate this point vividly. Musk operates at the heart of our prosperity engine, whilst Sen. Warren calls for ever-more expansive policies.
Sen. Warren is particularly vocal about income disparities, frequently exclaiming, ‘Tax the affluent!’ Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, is a candidate of choice. In 2018, it’s reported that he contributed zero in federal income tax. When set against this backdrop, however, it’s essential to understand the full picture.
Whilst Sen. Warren was championing her zero-tax narrative, Musk was in the act of breaking historical records – delivering a staggering $12 billion in taxes to the US government. That’s an amount unparalleled in history, and conveniently omitted by Sen. Warren.
Arguably, if Musk were to direct these $12 billion towards his entrepreneurial efforts instead of lining the coffers of distant bureaucracies, perhaps the world could have reaped greater benefits. In his role as a creator, Musk accomplishes feats many times beyond the scope of federal agencies.
NASA, for instance, has conceded the task of building spaceships to private initiatives. The agency’s bureaucrats seem to have accepted their limitations. In the meantime, the baton was passed to Musk, who demonstrated his abilities by launching astronauts into orbit after a nine-year gap in NASA’s capabilities.
What’s particularly fascinating is the effectiveness through which Musk has driven down the cost of every facet of space travel. Case in point, his team repurposed a relatively inexpensive latch used in restrooms to address a space vehicle issue, tipping the balance of cost barriers.
Undoubtedly, one of Musk’s game-changing innovations is the development of reusable rockets. “Reutilize a rocket a thousand times,” as Musk stated, could dramatically reduce rocket launch’s capital cost, hovering around a mere $50,000 each time.
Despite the obvious advantages, these cost-cutting measures are a rarity in government-run operations. An entrenched ‘business as usual’ mindset tends to prioritize spending above efficiency, as costs are typically borne by the taxpayer.
In addition to his space exploits, Musk has also materialized Starlink. This venture now brings cost-effective internet access to citizens worldwide. In terms of satellite deployment, he has eclipsed all competition – the majority of satellites encircling our planet are launched by Musk’s firm.
His strides in connectivity have offered the underprivileged an unprecedented access to the internet, dwarfing any previous government-led initiative. Equally remarkable is Musk’s role in electric car production, his pioneering progress in space technology, the creation of over 100,000 jobs, and the enabling of internet access to the disadvantaged.
Given these audacious accomplishments, it seems perplexing that Sen. Warren would cast him in a negative light. The senator even referred a request to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an inquiry into Tesla, accusing the firm of not accurately representing its shareholders — rather peculiar, seeing that Tesla’s stock value has increased by $790 billion.
Sen. Warren also expressed displeasure when Musk assumed the position of Twitter CEO. She called for an investigation into a ‘conflict of interest’. However, Musk’s investment in Twitter appears to be a net positive. Despite reporting losses on his investment, he stressed that acquiring Twitter was worth ‘everything’ since it ensures an open platform for public discourse.
This assertion seems substantiated in the aftermath of his acquisition, noting the end of needless censorship of diverse political perspectives. Followers that were previously suppressed are now regaining their numbers.
Now, Musk’s Neuralink is poised to revolutionize health technology by enabling paralyzed individuals to access the internet and operate artificial limbs using their thoughts. Musk truly embodies the quintessential creator. Alas, adversaries such as Sen. Warren continue to target high achievers like Musk with misplaced criticisms and calls for burdensome regulation.