This is for Logan and Wendell, whom I greatly respect, but who I think have fallen for a confidence trick when it comes to Elon Musk :)
American culture has created this image of a philanthropist super-genius businessman, and I'm guessing that's what people are searching for when they label Elon Musk as a genius. He's an interesting character - "arrogant, but supposedly rich enough to build us a hyper-loop, send us to Mars, etc." But let's consider some things:
Tesla has relied on government subsidies for years. It hasn't been profitable, because Tesla cars are the opposite of the Ford Model T. They're prohibitively expensive luxury cars.
The hyperloop has been an idea forever and Elon Musk has never agreed to invest in it, rather, just to direct the project while others fund it.
1) SpaceX (I don't agree), this is one sole reason why we haven't been to moon again, or have space vacations etc.
2) Tesla is getting tax breaks as any other company whom develops 'green' technology. No1 questions Ferrari, they are expensive luxury cars.
3) I don't care much, if people who want to build it want Musk as face of it then so be it...
4) At least he did, though it is a stupid idea. 5) Couldn't care less... 6) Good, if that works for him - he's in business.
I don't give a single damn about that guy, if it helps anyone to strive for to be something - i'd say let 'em. Its not a bad example and path for future.
The best chance we've got, in my opinion, is a well-funded NASA. Paving the road for business and later innovation. But a mission to Mars, or a hyperloop, won't be profitable at first. Business didn't build the national roads, it was a massive project that the entire nation built together, to invest in the future. If a business builds a road first, it will be a toll road forever.
Must be a recent thing to call him a genius, however; smart, arrogant, douche sounds about right and there's nothing wrong with that - he knows what he likes and he gets it done. As for the subsidies, they are set aside by the government specifically for the purpose of incentive's for large(or ballsy small) businesses to make a standard markup on their products otherwise it would never get done simply because the returns would be too low. This apply's to any company not just spacex or tesla. Neil degrasse tyson is a sellout and nothing more, he will say anything for money.
But we have Elon Musk, we don't have a well funded NASA. Not to mention I doubt there are enough smart people in government with a grasp of technology and science to even see the value of a well funded NASA. So our tax money will keep going to what they know best, fraud, war.
Also, as far as ruthless douchey businessmen in history go, I'd say Mr. Musk is pretty benign. Go read about Carnegie, Rockefeller et. al.
At the end of the day, he's out there helping humanity forward and there's almost no one else with as much money and visibility doing the same. We need someone to save us from the Trumps of the world and people who are so technologically retarded that they want to "close the internet up".
And all those years nasa hired private companies to get us to the moon. Nasa doesn't build anything and alot of the designs are from independent companies.
I'm also doubtful about tyson. He's a opinionated person like anybody else. Private company are more than capable of getting to space and they can do it more efficiently.
Tesla himself said he rather have traditional cars taxed for pollution caused rather than being subsidized. Also if i was going to make an all new market i would start at the higher end. It's better to target people with money. Also gives the company an image and publicity. The model 3 is coming and will be 35000 before subsidies.
I like his behavior
Alot of people tend to look down on capitalism and favor states because they "are doing it for the people or some other greater good." truth is government and organizations often quickly move away from their original vision of doing good to promoting the origination itself. Just look at the cesspool Wikipedia became. People with an agenda changing the truth.
With companies the agenda is always the same profit. and in order to profit they have to offer something people want. Only when governments interfere can crony capitalism exist. Overbearing regulations and taxes kill small business while big business can hire lawyers and lobby for exemptions. There are even laws that stop you from entering the market because "you could put somebody else out of business." even if their business sucks (some states have these rules for ISPs)
One person that gets his name smeared because of the rewiteing of history is John D Rockefeller. Sure he had a monopoly but he could have never got there if he wasn't the best. Good things about him are.
Abolitionist
Created many university including Rockefeller U where 23 Nobel prize winners are associated
He used all of the barrel of oil instead of dumping waste like his competitors.(the waste they were dumping was gasoline)
funded research that created many cures, vaccines, and knowledge.
helped black schools in the south
celebrated work days (anniversary of his first job) instead of birthdays.
Overall he donated $500 million in the late 1800s - early 1900s Imagine how much money it would be worth now.
Yeah I won't argue with you on that for sure...But he was still a hard charging business man who probably pissed people off and seemed like a douche. That's part of "being the best" I think.