Hacker News Reader

The list of living Americans who've done more to rewrite our future -- electronic payments, cheap spaceflight, electric cars, cheap solar power -- is pretty short. Everyone's flawed, great people more than most, and I think Musk legitimately deserves a spot on the top 30 or so greatest living Americans list.

I agree with this. Even if he’s an asshole sometimes, he’s an asshole with a vision and the capability to get it done.

I guess I prefer that over not having one at all :)

Winning cures all.

We may overemphasize a person's character. I would not trade Musk's achievements for a perfect character, whatever that means.

He's probably in the top 0.001% of greatest Americans ever.

Really? I mean, every person has some flaws, sure. But most the things he does are just pretty awesome, and usually very good for humanity's future.

I'm not a fanboi trying to defend him. I just happen to like most of his projects, both for the technology and for their positive view of the future.