Summary

Elon Musk sparked controversy by falsely claiming entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have “$700 billion” in fraud annually, vastly exaggerating the actual figure (~$10 billion/year).

Musk labeled Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and spread conspiracies about immigrants exploiting the system.

Critics argue Musk’s ignorance and conspiracy-mongering threaten essential public programs and data privacy, while his inflammatory rhetoric—such as calling Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and combat veteran, a “traitor”—reinforces demands for his immediate removal from government.

  • RabbitBBQ@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    He may not be elected but he paid the guy who got elected a ton of money, so that’s basically the same as being elected… Right? Right?!?

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    He needs to be able to steal that money, you guyzzzzz!

    Enriching fElon is about “efficiency”, at least according to MOE - the Ministry of Efficiency, where up is down, black is white.

  • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Maybe stop using “unelected”. Most of the cabinet is technically “unelected”. Focus on the part where he did not get a senate confirmation.

    Like… he must be so unpopular if he can’t even get a republican controlled senate to approve him.

      • ysjet@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        He’s been wearing that kid like a hat ever since that CEO got shot. First time anyone had EVER seen the kid in public, too, and suddenly he hasn’t been seen anywhere without him.

      • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 days ago

        It’s a strange tactic coming from someone who supports Israel, where “human shield” is used as justification to destroy said shield along with the target.

    • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      And doesn’t the man have like a zillion kids with multiple different women?

      Imagine being one of Musk’s other children. You know, the ones who don’t get their attention from their father while this one random kid gets all of it.

      • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 days ago

        “Imagine being one of Musk’s other children. You know, the ones who don’t get picked to be daddy’s human shield due to their small size and ability to be held up in front of bullets.”

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Social Security is a non-partisan red line.

    If this chode killed it his chances of survival would plummet.

    • PyroNeurosis@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      That the case may be, but he’d be a martyr for the ultra-capitalistic sorts that make these efforts their life’s work.

      A despicable end, but one that may appeal to Musk himself.

      • ZoopZeZoop@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Nah. No one would mourn him. The next ultra rich person would learn from his mistakes, but continue on with his work.

    • InvertedParallax@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      I really hope he fucks with it.

      I would buy all the popcorn to watch 2 million boomers walk up Pennsylvania Avenue to Gaddafi his ass for days.

  • aceshigh@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    He’ll be replaced with another billionaire. Why are people focused on musk instead of at the root of the problem?

    • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      Perhaps if we made a strong enough example of him it’ll make other billionaires think twice. The De Witt Brothers come to mind, tell them “It’s either this or 92% wealth tax on assets, you pick.”

      • aceshigh@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        There will always be a billionaire somewhere out there who’d be willing to give it a go. They don’t need to be a wealthy American who doesn’t want to pay taxes to do it. They can be a Russian oligarch. We need to get to the root source.

        • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 days ago

          Then perhaps we should be so ruthless against that sort of practice, that it just doesn’t look worth the gamble. Yes I agree, we need to get to the root source, but the billionaires are standing in the way of that arent they. Once upon a time they used to call social programs and such “Riot Tax” so we don’t go after them, but we’ve clearly proven we don’t even need a “riot tax” since we’ve proven to them we won’t brutally deal with them in the most humiliating and painfully scary way possible. They’re not worried about maintaining their social code because we’re not giving them the appropriate consequences, so yes, as long as we don’t sufficiently scare them another billionaire will take a crack at it.

        • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 days ago

          Hello there, random from another thread. Don’t you have better things to do than combing through strangers posts?

          • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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            1 day ago

            If looking at posts Ive already commented in is “combing through strangers posts”… well, I suppose. Somehow. Or something.

  • meowmeowbeanz@sopuli.xyz
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    2 days ago

    Unelected tech lord deciding grandma’s retirement funds is exactly the cyberpunk hellscape novels warned us about.

    🐱

  • numlok@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    before his slash-and-burn nonsense and warped views of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cause a spike in the sale of pitchforks.

    Ha. I’d argue the time for pitchforks is already here.

  • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Republicans are doing a great job on both sides…social security in case your luck fucks out, and the market in case your thought you could get away:

    Who said retirement? That’s illegal! You and I will be working for elon until we both end up 6’ under. (By that I mean fucking dead like a month Python parrot)

  • cool@lemmings.world
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    2 days ago

    We can’t move to direct voting quickly enough.

    Get these “representatives” out of power and put them in regular jobs like the rest of us.