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I've wondered about the long-term implications for the Mars goal as Elon keeps burning bridges within politics. Not that he was treated well by the current Whit

I've wondered about the long-term implications for the Mars goal as Elon keeps burning bridges within politics. Not that he was treated well by the current White House with regard to electric vehicles, so it's understandable that he would be upset. But turning around and endorsing the other candidate all while going on the attack against the current administration probably isn't winning anyone over. Overall, I just don't understand why Elon has allowed the Twitter political brainrot to take hold. If he's playing strategically, then it's happening at a level which isn't legible to me. I really don't see how engaging so much in divisive political issues is going to help him advance his claimed primary goal of extending human life to Mars.

theossuary 2y ago
How has the current White House mistreated Elon's ventures? For Tesla, the tax credit is still there, they pushed for and adopted the Tesla charger as the North American standard; heck they even levied a 100% tax against Chinese EVs (and batteries, and solar panels). SpaceX is still getting tons of federal money, it just got a billion dollar contract to deorbit ISS at the end of its life. It seems like policy is really working in Elon's favor right now to me.
- ivewonyoung 2y ago
  From the WSJ recently: > Then in August 2021, Biden organized an EV event, to be anchored by him signing an executive order with a target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles. > “In the auto industry, Detroit’s leading the world in electric vehicles,” Biden said at a November 2021 event while promoting the new infrastructure bill. He then turned to GM’s Mary Barra and praised the CEO. “You electrified the entire automobile industry. I’m serious. You led, and it matters,” Biden said. > Tesla’s leaders, including Musk, were outraged. During the fourth quarter of 2021, when Biden made these remarks, Tesla delivered more than 115,000 EVs in the U.S. while GM produced just 26. ... > The reason: Biden officials didn’t want to anger the powerful United Auto Workers union, which leaned on the White House to keep its distance from Musk, according to people familiar with the matter. https://archive.md/856RL https://archive.md/856RL
  - pavlov 2y ago
    So all the administration’s policies are actually favorable to Tesla, but the president said something in August 2021 that offended Musk and he holds a grudge. Perfectly normal decision-making process for a CEO of a company with $700B market cap. You’d think he would have noticed by now that American politicians have to say things to please swing state voters.
    - ivewonyoung 2y ago
      > So all the administration’s policies are actually favorable to Tesla, Not for lack of trying. They tried to make the subsidy exclusive to UAW companies and exclude Tesla. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2021/08/05/biden-wants-extra-incentives-for-union-built-electric-cars-which-excludes-teslas/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2021/08/05/biden-wa...
    - ivewonyoung 2y ago
      Another story on how the Democrats tried to exclude Tesla from EV subsidies. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/biden-bill-includes-boost-for-union-made-electric-vehicles https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/biden-bill-includes-boo...
- mensetmanusman 2y ago
  The EV party where Tesla wasn’t invited because of union hardball.
  - indoordin0saur 2y ago
    It makes perfect sense when you realize those sorts of things aren't about helping American industry or promoting sustainable energy. They are strategic campaign events meant to appeal to union bosses who can help them maintain power.
forgot-im-old 2y ago
It was never about Mars. Look into the Mars Society leadership, they were military / Strategic Defense Initiative people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career#:~:text=Elon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career#:~:t... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Zubrin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Zubrin
- panick21_ 2y ago
  [flagged]
- lupusreal 2y ago
  Bingo. What SpaceX hasn't done: Develop Mars habitats. What SpaceX has done: Develop precisely the kind of rocket you need to launch mega constellations like Brilliant Pebbles.
indoordin0saur 2y ago
Yeah, as much as I can understand where he's coming from in his frustrations I'm not sure it's the most productive route unless he wins in the end. As they say, if you take a swing at the king you'd best not miss.

theossuary 2y ago

How has the current White House mistreated Elon's ventures? For Tesla, the tax credit is still there, they pushed for and adopted the Tesla charger as the North American standard; heck they even levied a 100% tax against Chinese EVs (and batteries, and solar panels). SpaceX is still getting tons of federal money, it just got a billion dollar contract to deorbit ISS at the end of its life. It seems like policy is really working in Elon's favor right now to me.

ivewonyoung 2y ago
From the WSJ recently: > Then in August 2021, Biden organized an EV event, to be anchored by him signing an executive order with a target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles. > “In the auto industry, Detroit’s leading the world in electric vehicles,” Biden said at a November 2021 event while promoting the new infrastructure bill. He then turned to GM’s Mary Barra and praised the CEO. “You electrified the entire automobile industry. I’m serious. You led, and it matters,” Biden said. > Tesla’s leaders, including Musk, were outraged. During the fourth quarter of 2021, when Biden made these remarks, Tesla delivered more than 115,000 EVs in the U.S. while GM produced just 26. ... > The reason: Biden officials didn’t want to anger the powerful United Auto Workers union, which leaned on the White House to keep its distance from Musk, according to people familiar with the matter. https://archive.md/856RL https://archive.md/856RL
- pavlov 2y ago
  So all the administration’s policies are actually favorable to Tesla, but the president said something in August 2021 that offended Musk and he holds a grudge. Perfectly normal decision-making process for a CEO of a company with $700B market cap. You’d think he would have noticed by now that American politicians have to say things to please swing state voters.
  - ivewonyoung 2y ago
    > So all the administration’s policies are actually favorable to Tesla, Not for lack of trying. They tried to make the subsidy exclusive to UAW companies and exclude Tesla. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2021/08/05/biden-wants-extra-incentives-for-union-built-electric-cars-which-excludes-teslas/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2021/08/05/biden-wa...
  - ivewonyoung 2y ago
    Another story on how the Democrats tried to exclude Tesla from EV subsidies. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/biden-bill-includes-boost-for-union-made-electric-vehicles https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/biden-bill-includes-boo...
mensetmanusman 2y ago
The EV party where Tesla wasn’t invited because of union hardball.
- indoordin0saur 2y ago
  It makes perfect sense when you realize those sorts of things aren't about helping American industry or promoting sustainable energy. They are strategic campaign events meant to appeal to union bosses who can help them maintain power.

forgot-im-old 2y ago

It was never about Mars. Look into the Mars Society leadership, they were military / Strategic Defense Initiative people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career#:~:text=Elon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career#:~:t... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Zubrin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Zubrin

panick21_ 2y ago
[flagged]
lupusreal 2y ago
Bingo. What SpaceX hasn't done: Develop Mars habitats. What SpaceX has done: Develop precisely the kind of rocket you need to launch mega constellations like Brilliant Pebbles.

indoordin0saur 2y ago

Yeah, as much as I can understand where he's coming from in his frustrations I'm not sure it's the most productive route unless he wins in the end. As they say, if you take a swing at the king you'd best not miss.