Hacker News Reader

Comment by ronsor | Hacker News Reader

I like this practice of publicly airing out dirty laundry.

It’s certainly in response to Elon getting more involved in the government.

Recently the CFO basically challenged him to try and use his influence against competition “I trust that Elon would act completely appropriately… and not un-American [by abusing his influence for personal gain]”.

The best thing they can do is shine as much light on his behavior in the hope that he backs down to avoid further scrutiny. Now that Elon is competing, and involved with the government, he’ll be under a lot more scrutiny.

> Now that Elon is competing, and involved with the government, he’ll be under a lot more scrutiny.

That's the cutest fucking thing I've heard this year. In what world is anyone going to scrutinize Elon Musk? He's the right-hand man of the most powerful person in the world. The time for scrutiny was 8 years ago.

Scrutiny: noun critical observation or examination

He'll be under scrutiny, just not by anyone with any power whatsoever to stop or even meaningfully influence his behaviors.

Well Congress could meaningfully influence behaviors, but it seems very unlikely unless something drastic happens.

Scrutiny without the ability to exert oversight, control or any modicum of restraint is... utterly useless to everyone except the historians.

No immediate ability to exert oversight, but scrutiny can be a major factor in how things go 4 years, when the voters get to exert control.

>... when the voters get to exert control.

If*. We hope we can.

I didn't even realize he was American until this year. I thought he was African.

It's naive for anyone to think that Elon won't use his influence in government to empower his companies and weaken his competitors.

He spent $250m+ on helping get Trump elected.

Of course he is going to try and recoup some of that money back.

He already did. Look at Tesla’s stock since the election.

I think he is less worried about competitors than the government itself. Specifically, unelected bureaucrats with lots of power and few responsibilities.

He will actually use his position in the government to take down his competitors (by, for example, stopping the tax benefit of EV). Elon has grown into the biggest corrupt guy

Elon now IS an unelected bureucrat with lots of power and few responsibilities. If he's really afraid of that kind of thing, he should throw himself out.

That's what he is doing. He designed the department to have an expiration date.

That would be out of character for someone that opened Tesla's patents and lets competitors use the supercharger network.

Agreed!(assuming that wasn't sarcasm)

Has a nice "nailing my grievances to the town square bulletin board" feel. Doesn't result in any real legal evidence either way, but it's fun to read along.

This is not airing out dirty laundry. This is calling bullshit on a bullshitter making bullshit claims.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com