Elon Musk Is The REAL President Elect.

It worked really well for the shareholders in those businesses, though, didn't it?

The problem being that businesses will run like businesses and their objective is not the wellbeing of the country they serve but the maximisation of profit and shareholder dividends. At any cost....

A business has to please its customers to stay in business, but those privatised companies which have no competition don't have to please their customers at all. The 'customers' have no choice...

MaizieD

Governments publishes its accounts. They are available for anyone to examine.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Select Committee: ^examines the value for money of Government projects, programmes and service delivery. Drawing on the work of the National Audit Office the Committee holds government officials to account for the economy, efficiency and
effectiveness of public spending^.

Reports are published on all the PA Select committee's findings.

What other transparency would you like, SWGran?

Ass a government is nothing like a business. It doesn't exist to make money, it exists to serve the country. I don't see how the opinion of a business man is of any relevance.

Ass a government is nothing like a business. It doesn't exist to make money, it exists to serve the country. I don't see how the opinion of a business man is of any relevance.

Well I think the idea behind it is that Governments are profligate in their spending on the various departments and people within it and 'business' can detect those areas of waste - hence the privatisation of most of our public services.

Which has really worked out well, hasn't it?

Governments publishes its accounts. They are available for anyone to examine.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Select Committee: ^examines the value for money of Government projects, programmes and service delivery. Drawing on the work of the National Audit Office the Committee holds government officials to account for the economy, efficiency and
effectiveness of public spending^.

Reports are published on all the PA Select committee's findings.

What other transparency would you like, SWGran?

Ass a government is nothing like a business. It doesn't exist to make money, it exists to serve the country. I don't see how the opinion of a business man is of any relevance.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Morning SWGran! A kindred spirit! 😁 we are an irritating presence in this echo chamber to some (not all thankfully!). Nice to have you join me on the norty step - us fans of different viewpoints!

Yes, good evening to you and all on here. I have to say I do see what you mean, but happy to join you on the naughty step. I have been accused of misinterpretation, then misinterpreted myself by others. People on here clearly don’t like Musk and that’s absolutely fine, everyone has their own opinions. I am of a different opinion to which I believe I am also entitled.

I would personally love to see a department in our Government equivalent to that of DoGE, headed by someone like Musk outside of the existing establishment, to look at our Governments expenditure and provide true transparency. Wouldn’t that be something?

Well I think you can target money Wyllow in ways that help and promote a cause. Of course you can. People are indeed saying on tv it’s not just the money it’s how it’s spent. Apparently when Jo Swinson was leader (albeit briefly!) of the LibDems the party was given a substantial donation and they just didn’t know how to spend it (there are rules). They ended up, as one example, of just printing an extortionate number of glossy pamphlets and posting them through letterboxes. Most of which will have got thrown in the recycling bin!

However, at the end of the day, if a party or cause don’t resonate with one’s own values - it’s. Dead Duck.

I wonder if that’s the nub of the outrage? That Reform (real change a’coming) is in the ascendancy and the 2 main parties see it, know it’s coming down the tracks and are concerned (a bit).

You can "buy" matters political in a number of ways

"Republican lawmakers on Sunday raced to praise and defend the X owner —

perhaps not surprisingly since the richest man in the world has threatened to finance primary challenges to members of Congress who defy Trump’s orders

(article on possible Musk/Trump issues)

edition.cnn.com/2024/12/23/politics/president-musk-trump-analysis/index.html

Re Musk & his Millions: I think you cannot buy democracy, because people actually have to go out and vote for your offering, regardless of how much money is thrown at the cause. I seem to recall vast sums of money being spent on the campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union. 🤷‍♀️

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Reform is well on the way to destroying the existing two-party hegemony and it will happen with or without Musk's money.
Both main parties in the UK have belatedly realised that you can't betray the electorate and get away with it indefinitely.

I hope so 🙏

No guns here 🙂 just a question

Other POV always welcome, FGT, what do you think of Musk and his trying to influence other countries politics?

Last time I opined on the other Elon thread (much longer than this one) I got shot down.

But thank you for asking Wyllow3! 😁

I’ll lick my wounds a while and come back more fully later.

Reform is well on the way to destroying the existing two-party hegemony and it will happen with or without Musk's money.
Both main parties in the UK have belatedly realised that you can't betray the electorate and get away with it indefinitely.

GrannyGravy13

Wyllow3 what do you think of Bill Gates and Larry Fink or Lord Ali cosying up to Keir Starmer and Angela Raynor?

Or is it just rich people on the right of politics you object to?

My personal view is that it depends on what political power those individuals have.

They have not been given key decision making, policy making, active "Cabinet" positions in the very heart of government government as Musk has.

Nor I do not recall any of them spouting opinions on foreign governments on X designed to unseat that government.

Gates funds charity non political NGO's but gives no money to the Labour Party: as Musk has apparently to Reform.

Fink may or may not be a business link but is not a donor nor appointee.

I picked up that impression too, (extreme) SWGran. Probably because of what you wrote right after it.

I will say however that I wouldn't support anyone right or left if they behaved like Musk, this unelected manipulator who threw money at the USA election including that individual vote promotors the so called "lottery" where people won a million $ in a draw after "signing up" and now has been gifted with incredible amounts of power - but not an elected figure.

The sooner they fall out, the better.

Trump celeb endorsements:

Sylvester Stallone
Buzz Aldrin
Dr Phil McGraw
Mel Gibson
Hulk Hogan
Kid Rock
Joe Rogan
Megyn Kelly
Amber rose
Jake Paul
Holly Valance
Billy Ray Cyrus
Bryce Hall
Dana White
Roseanne Barr
ames Woods
Kid Rock
Michael Rapport
Kanye West
Scott Baio
Taryn Manning

(And loads of others on lists)

Wyllow3 what do you think of Bill Gates and Larry Fink or Lord Ali cosying up to Keir Starmer and Angela Raynor?

Or is it just rich people on the right of politics you object to?

Iam64

SWGran, seeing the Guardian as some kind of extreme left says much about where you sit politically.
By the way, yes I’ve always seen Musk as a dangerous individual. Extremist ideologies cause all kinds of issues. His personal life reflect his narcissistic personality,

Prey tell where I said ‘extreme’ left? I sit on the right, is that a crime?

Iam64

SWGran, seeing the Guardian as some kind of extreme left says much about where you sit politically.
By the way, yes I’ve always seen Musk as a dangerous individual. Extremist ideologies cause all kinds of issues. His personal life reflect his narcissistic personality,

On this very long thread there have been many different points of view: (the Guardian may be leftish liberal but often critiques the left with considerable vigour)

I agree with this view of Musk as a summary, and particularly object he consistently tries to meddle via X with other countries' politics, and do hope for a falling-out with considerable interest.

Other POV always welcome, FGT, what do you think of Musk and his trying to influence other countries politics?

Mt61

keepingquiet

Money rules in US politcs and Trump didn't complain when Musk was funding his campaign, but Musk will not find it so easy to have the control he seeks and will inevitably take refuge in another scheme.

Same with Reform- the UK system is not the same as in the US and Musk will find himself up against the real establishment in no time.

You forget the labour party took quite a bit in donations- buying fancy clothes & accessories

Oh please...that chestnut that the Labour Party came clean about only to be accused of corruption.

We are talking a whole different ball game here...

MaizieD

I'd disagree that Musk is lauded because he has celebrity status. I think he is revered because he is obscenely wealthy and will continue to be so. No ephemeral comet flashing through the sky but a permanent fixture.

No, these obscenely rich people come and go, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, still very rich, still around, just no longer have any celebrity status. Not in the papers everyday, no longer seen as bringers of good frtune and good luck.

MaizieD

I'd disagree that Musk is lauded because he has celebrity status. I think he is revered because he is obscenely wealthy and will continue to be so. No ephemeral comet flashing through the sky but a permanent fixture.

I think he is revered because he is obscenely wealthy...

I've previously been engaged in discussions on SM sites where his status /wealth / technology, is being discussed. With a few exceptions, any criticism of either him or his technology is met with a response that includes a reference to his wealth. You are 'denounced' because he's a wealthy success, and you are aren't, so you are not in a position to criticise. That's basically what it amounts to.

Musk's IQ rivals Einstein's. But a high IQ doesn't guarantee anything other than the set of skills it measures.

There are other forms of intelligence - emotional and practical intelligence. The IQ test doesn't capture those.

But if you question Musk's personality traits or his emotional intelligence, you are quite likely to be reminded of his enormous wealth because that's the yardstick by which he's measured. Especially in America.

So yes, I think you are right.

keepingquiet

Money rules in US politcs and Trump didn't complain when Musk was funding his campaign, but Musk will not find it so easy to have the control he seeks and will inevitably take refuge in another scheme.

Same with Reform- the UK system is not the same as in the US and Musk will find himself up against the real establishment in no time.

You forget the labour party took quite a bit in donations- buying fancy clothes & accessories

Money rules in US politcs and Trump didn't complain when Musk was funding his campaign, but Musk will not find it so easy to have the control he seeks and will inevitably take refuge in another scheme.

Same with Reform- the UK system is not the same as in the US and Musk will find himself up against the real establishment in no time.

Morning SWGran! A kindred spirit! 😁 we are an irritating presence in this echo chamber to some (not all thankfully!). Nice to have you join me on the norty step - us fans of different viewpoints!

I'd disagree that Musk is lauded because he has celebrity status. I think he is revered because he is obscenely wealthy and will continue to be so. No ephemeral comet flashing through the sky but a permanent fixture.

SWGran, seeing the Guardian as some kind of extreme left says much about where you sit politically.
By the way, yes I’ve always seen Musk as a dangerous individual. Extremist ideologies cause all kinds of issues. His personal life reflect his narcissistic personality,

Misinterpretations as usual. What I’ve come to expect. Dissembling is a bit of an art for some. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas anyway. I mean that, not being nasty.