#1484 Elon Musk is Not Your Savior and He Is Actually Awful (Repost)
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 12 April 2023
⏱️ 86 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
Original Air Date 4/20/2022
Today we take a look at the bizarre halo effect that seems to surround Elon Musk and then thoroughly puncture it by just explaining a few things about him and his companies.
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 1: The Myth Of The "Self-Made" Billionaire - Second Thought - Air Date 9-10-21
It’s no secret that Americans love to hear about billionaires. You’ll find them everywhere. They’re on the news [Bezos space launch], have their own TV shows, movies, and even make their way to elected office.
Ch. 2: Is Elon Musk a Fraud - Deconstructed - Air Date 5-14-20
Over the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to voice his frustrations about the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in Alameda County, California. The billionaire entrepreneur threatened that he would take his auto factory to another state
Ch. 3: Tesla SUED Over Racial Discrimination In The Workplace - The Young Turks - Air Date 2-12-22
Elon Musk and Tesla are coming under fire as the state of California is suing the company for allegedly running a “racially segregated” workplace. Black workers are reportedly concentrated in certain parts of the factory and are constantly berated
Ch. 4: Elon Musk Is Not Your Friend - Some More News - Air Date 5-10-21
Hi. Elon Musk will not save us. Sorry.
Billionaire memelord Elon Musk has dropped yet another batcrap Libertarian rant for his adoring fans, this time regarding the bloodthirsty government and how he hates the pesky electric vehicle subsidies that he would (and already does) benefit from.
Ch. 6: Elon Trolls the SEC - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Air Date 4-8-22
With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform?
Ch. 7: Elon, Segregationist & Culture War in Colorado w/ Chase Woodruff - Left Reckoning - Air Date 2-23-22
The real reason Elon Musk fleed California: incredible racism and animal cruelty charges. Also, how he's giving marching orders to Texas cops.
MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)
Ch. 9: Elon Musk Isn’t Saving Humanity w/ Manu Saadia - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-25-21
Paris Marx is joined by Manu Saadia to discuss the roots of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos’ visions for space, and why they serve the billionaires’ need for control, not the betterment of humanity.
VOICEMAILS
Ch. 10: Back on the path - Dave from Olympia, WA
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 12: Final comments on foundational ideas that help explain politics
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world)
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey everyone, we're on another working break while I tried desperately to put the finishing touches on an episode |
| 0:05.0 | I have been chipping away at for what feels like months now but is actually closer to weeks |
| 0:10.1 | which is still surprising. It turns out to be a heavier lift than I initially anticipated |
| 0:14.6 | but I hope it'll be worth the wait. Today I have a great rerun for you that I'm particularly proud of |
| 0:19.6 | because we managed to point out that Elon Musk was awful before it became glaringly obvious to everyone else. Enjoy! |
| 0:30.4 | Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of a Left podcast in which we shall take a look |
| 0:35.9 | at the bizarre halo effect that seems to be surrounding Elon Musk and then thoroughly puncture it |
| 0:42.0 | by just explaining a few things about him and his companies. Clips today are from second thought, |
| 0:48.4 | deconstructed, the young Turks, some more news, the majority report, what next TBD and left |
| 0:57.0 | reckoning with an additional members only clip from tech won't save us. |
| 1:07.8 | At the heart of every favorable depiction of a billionaire is this idea that they have earned |
| 1:12.7 | their success and their wealth. The most compelling stories are those of billionaires who |
| 1:17.4 | through sheer hard work and grit, so we're told, have conquered the American dream and made a |
| 1:22.4 | better life for themselves, those around them, and our society as a whole. But there are a number |
| 1:27.8 | of reasons this is simply incorrect. We'll get to exactly how this idea is wrong in a second. |
| 1:33.6 | But first, we should talk about why the myth of self-made billionaires is such a problem. For |
| 1:38.4 | starters, vanishingly few people ever become billionaires. In the US, it's around 600 people, |
| 1:45.0 | or 0.002% of the population. Perversely, however, the myth of the self-made billionaire tries to trick |
| 1:53.1 | you into believing that anybody, yes, even you, dear viewer, could one day be just like them. |
| 1:59.0 | After all, if they can do it, so can you. You already know how they attempt to sell this falsehood. |
| 2:05.2 | It's always so incredibly simple. They tell you they started from nothing, |
| 2:09.6 | that they were once just like you. They too had a 9-5 job that they hated. They too had trouble |
... |
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