Musk | Fascist

[Raven]

That's not it. Musk attached himself to someone with power in Trump. Is he dangerous and influential? Absolutely but he isn't the most powerful man on earth, he isn't the man that has access to the most wealth on earth either.

He is now or did you miss the part where he raided the US Treasury? Did you also miss the part where he's the single biggest recipient of US subsidies and now runs a department that has big sway over where funds are allocated? And then you have twitter... Probably the most powerful propaganda tool of all time.

Like I said, we can keep burying our heads if you want but it's not going to make this cnut feck off.

 

[berbatrick]

Just remembered they sent out an email telling us that criticism of zionism is anti-semitic, and hence something we can be fired for expressing, and, next day, there were posters in every building about how important it is to listen to each other and "have compassion" or some such shit.

Really if Trump destroyed universities without touching the NIH/NSF, I'd get some sick pleasure in watching them all fall.

 

[Tarrou]

Just remembered they sent out an email telling us that criticism of zionism is anti-semitic, and hence something we can be fired for expressing, and, next day, there were posters in every building about how important it is to listen to each other and "have compassion" or some such shit.

Really if Trump destroyed universities without touching the NIH/NSF, I'd get some sick pleasure in watching them all fall.

that's incredible, and insane

is this in America?

 

[berbatrick]

that's incredible, and insane

is this in America?

yes.

comes from here:
"Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor."

https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism

 

[Pughnichi]

Where’s your sources from Donald?

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

 

[John XII]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

Where is it reported though?

 

[afrocentricity]

That's not it. Musk attached himself to someone with power in Trump. Is he dangerous and influential? Absolutely but he isn't the most powerful man on earth, he isn't the man that has access to the most wealth on earth either.

We don't know what his agenda is tbh. He has been training his own AIs for years now which have massive potential to be used for social engineering on his platforms and beyond, and he's trying to gain more (tiktok). I'm not quite in agreement with @Raven (who I ironically associate with the Raven from Snowcrash) but I would not be surprised if Musk actually models his future self as an L Bob Rife figure.

 

[golden_blunder]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

You don’t think it’s important that the richest man in the world, with a seat on the most powerful government in the world does not one, but two Naxi salutes at his bosses inauguration? Off course that’s news. And if you don’t believe it’s really a nazi salute then you need to read more about his background.

BTW id argue that the spending on military armaments is more abhorrent than what you find is.

 

[Mogget]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

Oh yay we've got a live one.

 

[JPRouve]

We don't know what his agenda is tbh. He has been training his own AIs for years now which have massive potential to be used for social engineering on his platforms and beyond, and he's trying to gain more (tiktok). I'm not quite in agreement with @Raven (who I ironically associate with the Raven from Snowcrash) but I would not be surprised if Musk actually models his future self as an L Bob Rife figure.

Maybe, is that in contradiction with what I said?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

USAID spent 40 billion dollars. Not all of it wasted of course. You can make your own mind up.

It begs the question. What are the budgets of other organisations being spent on.

Millions spent giving money to support electric vehicles in Vietnam.

‘Millions’ to a transgender clinic in India.

1.5M dollars to Serbia to advance DEI in Serbias workplace.

Millions of dollars to organisations in Gaza. Recipients of which have ‘called for their land to be cleansed from the I purity of Jews!’

2M dollars for sex changes in Guatemala.

20M dollars for new kids tv show in Iraq

4.5M dollars to combat misinformation in Kyrgyzstan

10M dollars to feed to an Al Qaeds terrorist group the Nusra Front

7.9M dollars for a project in Sri Lanka to avoid binary gendered language

1.5M to promote LGBTQ advocacy in Jamaica

1.5M to rebuild The Cuban media eco system

3.9M for LGBTQ ‘causes’ Macedonia

8.3M for equity and inclusion in Nepal

The richest (people or countries) imo have an obligation to aid in positive humanitarian causes around the world. There’s nothing wrong with that. They have an interest in it too.

 

[afrocentricity]

Maybe, is that in contradiction with what I said?

Not really and that's not my point. I prefer to err on the side of caution, to me it's misguided to only look at the now and not acknowledge the trajectory and possibilities.

Certainly not a musk fan myself

Are you sure?

 

[JPRouve]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

You put together 61m$, now how much of the 20bn that went to SpaceX are actually used efficiently?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

Ah, a nazi apologist. Follow Musk on twitter, best source of all things bigoted

 

[Krakenzero]

Sounds like many CCP part owned manufacturing brands. So is everyone boycotting them as well?

I don't know, how many of them did Nazi salutes at the US presidential inauguration?

USAID spent 40 billion dollars. Not all of it wasted of course. You can make your own mind up.

Why is it that everytime this sentence is used you can bet that the following bit of information wasn't properly analyzed by one?

 

[JPRouve]

Not really and that's not my point. I prefer to err on the side of caution, to me it's misguided to only look at the now and not acknowledge the trajectory and possibilities.

That's a strange point, first because I didn't deny the dangers that he represents today and the question wasn't about an hypothetical future in which case there is a number of people that are doing exactly what he is doing and have even more funds, such as China. My point was simply that he isn't the most powerful man on earth and he isn't actually the wealthiest either in the sense that there is a number of people and entities that have way more available cash at their disposal, there is a also a number of people that have actual power, power to do impose but also power to take and kill.

What I'm saying isn't rosy, it isn't meant to make people feel better. Musk is a threat but he isn't at the top of the food chain which in my opinion is frightening but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[JPRouve]

Where is it reported though?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorized/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

Please click on the links to see the source.

 

[TheGame]

As manutd fans we’re all very aware of clickbait.

Same rule applies, more so, for politics…in particular US politics.

So instead of people just hoovering up poor journalism that Musk does a nazi salute, perhaps they should recognise that actually it’s about time that someone looked into the abhorrent spending

Certainly not a musk fan myself, but this stuff should be reported instead of the generic nonsense that fill the colum space SM and internet.

Oh bore off, what do you think he did? It was clearly that and we all saw it. He behaviour in cosying up to facists sums it up.

 

[Red_toad]

I don't know, how many of them did Nazi salutes at the US presidential inauguration?

Probably none. What does that have to do with anything?
The alternatives are made by companies who's owners do far far worse things.

 

[Tarrou]

Probably none. What does that have to do with anything?
The alternatives are made by companies who's owners do far far worse things.

if it's far far worse than doing a nazi salute on live tv I'd be avoiding those brands too I reckon

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

It is quite likely what he says is true, but if you add all of those, it is around 50M. If you give a generous extra 50M for 'millions' for EV vehicles in Vietnam, and transgender clinics in India, it is still 100M, or 0.25% of the total USAID annual budget.

My guess is that these are some very selected, relatively ridiculous, ways of spending money, to give the impression that is all what USAID does. When likely, the other 99.75% is spent on fighting corruption on developing and poor countries, humanitarian aid in Haiti and other countries that really need it, fighting diseases in Africa etc. To MAGA, this is wasted money but even if you take out the humanitarian part of it, this is the way of how soft power works, so overall, USAID has definitely been a net positive.

It can probably be spent better though, but shutting it down seems a very Trumpian way of doing things.

NB: A lot of this money is actually spent on US staff salaries etc, so lots of it is somehow brought back to the US.

Some of the USAID budget items (if true) sound stupid. But some are used to bribe officials indirectly to further US causes, for example stopping a Chinese project in favour of a US one. I know from government officials in my country who got money for their NGO to stop a Chinese rail road initiative.

 

[Superden]

feckin breitbart. theyve finally done it. made up AI assisted shit stories now driving US govt policy.

 

[Pughnichi]

The richest (people or countries) imo have an obligation to aid in positive humanitarian causes around the world. There’s nothing wrong with that. They have an interest in it too.

I don’t disagree. I too genuinely think it’s necessary to offer aid for positive causes around the world. Could it be scaled back a bit though? Are they all suitable? It wasn’t an exhausted list. Surely some of it could have been better spent on American citizens.

My frustration, effectively proven by the response to my initial comments, is that people on ‘one side’ don’t even remotely acknowledge or even seem to have an opinion on the figures suggested.

Instead, the automated response seems to be mud slinging, suggesting I’m a nazi sympathiser, a bigot, which is unbelievably ridiculous and equally offensive but also rather ironically funny, them not realising that a different opinion to theirs doesn’t make me (and others) an extremist. But hey, they can start throwing around vitriol.

 

[afrocentricity]

I don’t disagree. I too genuinely think it’s necessary to offer aid for positive causes around the world. Could it be scaled back a bit though? Are they all suitable? It wasn’t an exhausted list. Surely some of it could have been better spent on American citizens.

My frustration, effectively proven by the response to my initial comments, is that people on ‘one side’ don’t even remotely acknowledge or even seem to have an opinion on the figures suggested.

Instead, the automated response seems to be mud slinging, suggesting I’m a nazi sympathiser, a bigot, which is unbelievably ridiculous and equally offensive but also rather ironically funny, them not realising that a different opinion to theirs doesn’t make me (and others) an extremist. But hey, they can start throwing around vitriol.

Bro the military budget dwarfs the aid budget. Do you not think you're picking a weird hill to stand and fight on.

That's a strange point, first because I didn't deny the dangers that he represents today and the question wasn't about an hypothetical future in which case there is a number of people that are doing exactly what he is doing and have even more funds, such as China. My point was simply that he isn't the most powerful man on earth and he isn't actually the wealthiest either in the sense that there is a number of people and entities that have way more available cash at their disposal, there is a also a number of people that have actual power, power to do impose but also power to take and kill.

What I'm saying isn't rosy, it isn't meant to make people feel better. Musk is a threat but he isn't at the top of the food chain which in my opinion is frightening but maybe I'm wrong.

You're talking past me... We have 2 different points. All I'm saying is people should take Musk seriously now, not later.

 

[Cheimoon]

I don’t disagree. I too genuinely think it’s necessary to offer aid for positive causes around the world. Could it be scaled back a bit though? Are they all suitable? It wasn’t an exhausted list. Surely some of it could have been better spent on American citizens.

My frustration, effectively proven by the response to my initial comments, is that people on ‘one side’ don’t even remotely acknowledge or even seem to have an opinion on the figures suggested.

Instead, the automated response seems to be mud slinging, suggesting I’m a nazi sympathiser, a bigot, which is unbelievably ridiculous and equally offensive but also rather ironically funny, them not realising that a different opinion to theirs doesn’t make me (and others) an extremist. But hey, they can start throwing around vitriol.

That's not a list anyone can reasonably respond to though. First, you'd need to provide a source that makes it a trustworthy list. And second, if it is, you need to know the rationale behind these grants. It's not like USAID would do a global lottery of causes, or just give to whatever cause presents itself. I have never looked into them, but they will most likely operate like any funding organization: they will have strategic priorities, corresponding funding programs, a selection or application process to identify potential grant recipients, a review processes to prioritize among those, and then ultimately make a funding decision.

I agree that the list looks funny if regarded without considering any of these things. But that's a pointless activity. I know proper consideration of things isn't popular in today's political climate, but it's the only way you can actually come to any interesting opinion on that list of grants.

 

[JPRouve]

You're talking past me... We have 2 different points. All I'm saying is people should take Musk seriously now, not later.

But I do take him seriously now. That's confusing.

 

[John XII]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorized/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

Please click on the links to see the source.

Every time one thinks satire is dead it becomes even deader.

 

[The Firestarter]

He had a big influence in Europe which included Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. Yes, Soviet Union of the 1920s where he was declared a hero and at a time when the US didn't recognize them! Hitler adored Ford and Ford promoted anti-jewish propaganda (read Protocols of Elders of Zion & Ford). Crazy stuff.

 

[Raven]

We don't know what his agenda is tbh. He has been training his own AIs for years now which have massive potential to be used for social engineering on his platforms and beyond, and he's trying to gain more (tiktok). I'm not quite in agreement with @Raven (who I ironically associate with the Raven from Snowcrash) but I would not be surprised if Musk actually models his future self as an L Bob Rife figure.

Do we not know what his agenda is? It looks pretty obvious to me. He's looking to consolidate/expand his power and wealth by leaning into fascism, which is handy for him since he was already a fascist.

 

[Cheimoon]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorized/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

Please click on the links to see the source.

I'm not clicking on all the links and trash sources, but if I look at just these two:

“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
The article linked explains that "Mahmoud Al Hafyan, who ran the organization’s Syrian division, skimmed as much as $10 million worth of meals funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The meals were supposed to go to Syrian civil war refugees. Mr. Al Hafyan allowed members of the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-linked terrorist organization, to collect the meals, U.S. investigators said as they unsealed an indictment last week." So that's not USAID policy, it's an illegal diversion of funds that's facing criminal investigation.

"$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt"
The article linked explains that this is actually development support for the North Sinai region: "The amendment to the North Sinai bilateral assistance agreement supports the Egyptian government’s efforts to spur inclusive economic development in the governorate. Through this agreement, USAID will build on previous investments in North Sinai including the provision of potable water to 300,000 residents and wastewater services to 100,000 residents. New activities under this amendment will provide access to transportation for rural communities and economic livelihood programming for families."

And that, @Pughnichi, is why your list means nothing as it is. Just in these two examples we see how the headlines complete distort what actually happened. I'm not going to go through all the rest; it's up to you now to do the due diligence on your own post and demonstrate how that list proves anything.

 

[JPRouve]

I'm not clicking on all the links and trash sources, but if I look at just these two:

“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
The article linked explains that "Mahmoud Al Hafyan, who ran the organization’s Syrian division, skimmed as much as $10 million worth of meals funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The meals were supposed to go to Syrian civil war refugees. Mr. Al Hafyan allowed members of the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-linked terrorist organization, to collect the meals, U.S. investigators said as they unsealed an indictment last week." So that's not USAID policy, it's an illegal diversion of funds that's facing criminal investigation.

"$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt"
The article linked explains that this is actually development support for the North Sinai region: "The amendment to the North Sinai bilateral assistance agreement supports the Egyptian government’s efforts to spur inclusive economic development in the governorate. Through this agreement, USAID will build on previous investments in North Sinai including the provision of potable water to 300,000 residents and wastewater services to 100,000 residents. New activities under this amendment will provide access to transportation for rural communities and economic livelihood programming for families."

And that, @Pughnichi, is they your list means nothing as it is. Just in these two examples we see how the headlines complete distort what actually happened. I'm not going to go through all the rest; it's up to you now to do the due diligence on your own post and demonstrate how that list proves anything.

It's the same story for all of them. You have a headline that says one thing, the article that tries to push the same narrative and the quote says something else. For example the Breibart article about opium is actually about that:

In some areas, development programs inadvertently supported poppy production. One example of this was the rehabilitation and development of irrigation systems. USAID reported that ADP East and South rehabilitated canals that increased the productivity of 113,808 hectares of land.

…

Geospatial data derived from satellite imagery shows that, in some areas, the [USAID’s Kandahar Food Zone program] KFZ’s focus on irrigation facilitated an increase in the amount of land dedicated to agriculture under the improved canal systems, but also contributed to rising levels of opium poppy cultivation.

 

[caid]

Its a bit weird for a government document to be linking to newspaper articles anyway isn't it? Should it not be the other way around with the newspaper quoting the government document.

 

[cafecillos]

Ah, the Musk not-a-fan-whatsoever with the do your own research bit. Good stuff.

 

[JPRouve]

Its a bit weird for a government document to be linking to newspaper articles anyway isn't it? Should it not be the other way around with the newspaper quoting the government document.

I actually don't know if the gov makes it officially, it looks too ridiculously to be official so I assume that someone got a .gov site and his sharing some dubious information.

 

[caid]

I actually don't know if the gov makes it officially, it looks too ridiculously to be official so I assume that someone got a .gov site and his sharing some dubious information.

You'd think the actual government would have control over them domains? Or they did a month ago before Musk's teenage wrecking crew showed up.

 

[JPRouve]

You'd think the actual government would have control over them domains? Or they did a month ago before Musk's teenage wrecking crew showed up.

You'd hope but the website seems to do a good propaganda job, so...

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I don’t disagree. I too genuinely think it’s necessary to offer aid for positive causes around the world. Could it be scaled back a bit though? Are they all suitable? It wasn’t an exhausted list. Surely some of it could have been better spent on American citizens.

My frustration, effectively proven by the response to my initial comments, is that people on ‘one side’ don’t even remotely acknowledge or even seem to have an opinion on the figures suggested.

Instead, the automated response seems to be mud slinging, suggesting I’m a nazi sympathiser, a bigot, which is unbelievably ridiculous and equally offensive but also rather ironically funny, them not realising that a different opinion to theirs doesn’t make me (and others) an extremist. But hey, they can start throwing around vitriol.

Firstly, money not being perfectly utilised isn’t a shock. That doesn’t happen anywhere, anytime.

Secondly, if you want a rational debate then don’t post random figures without a credible source. And even based on your random figures, what the hell is wrong with transgender clinics in India, for example? My country is terrible in this regard, and I have someone in my circle who had to go to the US to get this procedure. If you truly believe in an onus on the super rich towards humanity at large then that’s a great cause to put money into.

 

[afrocentricity]

Do we not know what his agenda is? It looks pretty obvious to me. He's looking to consolidate/expand his power and wealth by leaning into fascism, which is handy for him since he was already a fascist.

I agree, but to what end?

 

[Pexbo]

I agree, but to what end?

White male supremacy most likely. A society where white males have the same respect and control they used to have and women and minorities know their place.

He’s already the richest man on earth and that has ever existed. So it’s difficult to think it’s about making more money although that can’t be ruled out. He’s probably found that despite his wealth something is still missing and that is likely “more power” and as he’s never going to be an elected politician he’s living out his power trip by proxy. It’s not fun for him to influence policies in a traditional sense, it’s got to be in his own bombastic extremist way because he needs the attention that comes with that.

 

[Frosty]

Firstly, money not being perfectly utilised isn’t a shock. That doesn’t happen anywhere, anytime.

Secondly, if you want a rational debate then don’t post random figures without a credible source. And even based on your random figures, what the hell is wrong with transgender clinics in India, for example? My country is terrible in this regard, and I have someone in my circle who had to go to the US to get this procedure. If you truly believe in an onus on the super rich towards humanity at large then that’s a great cause to put money into.

I actually agree with Trump and his supporters. Much better to spend this money on transgender care and support in the US, which is clearly what we will see