Summary

Bill Gates criticized Elon Musk for his support of far-right politicians, including the UK’s Tommy Robinson and Germany’s AfD party, calling it “insane shit” and accusing Musk of destabilizing political systems.

Gates questioned Musk’s focus on divisive politics while managing global businesses like Tesla and SpaceX.

Gates also expressed concern about wealthy individuals influencing foreign elections.

Musk has faced backlash for controversial actions, including a Nazi salute.

  • Siegfried@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Maybe if Musk started out with no money, that would be fair in some sense.

    Why is this american obsession on weighting the value of men with the money they made? Musk is an idiot regardless of his money or how he made it.

    • goodthanks@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      I’m not sure what you mean. I’m not American, and I don’t place much value on enormous wealth accumulation. I’m just acknowledging that there is a difference between gaining enormous wealth with a hefty leg up from family wealth versus doing it from scratch, like growing up in poverty for example.

      • reksas@sopuli.xyz
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        3 days ago

        You can’t get that amount of money without exploitation. If you start from 0 it just means you have to actually work for it but end result is still the same.

          • reksas@sopuli.xyz
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            3 days ago

            you should define the word rich better in this context. Personally I have started to think word “rich” as negative thing, someone who has more than they need at expense of others, but I dont think that is very common way to think.

            • goodthanks@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              You’re right, the term is very subjective. The lower bound for me is owning multiple properties, owning a business and making money from the labour of others.

              • reksas@sopuli.xyz
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                2 days ago

                Well, its okay to make some money from others labour, as long as its fair. But way it currently works, that some business owner gets majority of the value of someones work is not okay. That is just benefitting from being on stronger position than someone else and ultimately isnt much different from taking from someone by force. Its not like you can refuse to participate as people need to have money to live.

            • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              I think a lot of people don’t consider the exploitation angle. Often they see someone like Bill gates as having invented windows and see his wealth as earned by goods provided that they don’t think would otherwise exist. It’s what capital teaches is the justification for wealth

    • ansiz@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Americans equal money with power, the more power you have, the more value, etc. That is basically it.

      • wewbull@feddit.uk
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        2 days ago

        Money = Speech don’t ya know.

        Mo’ money is a bigger voice in their system. Other countries call that “corrupt to the core”.