The Elon Musk Playbook: The Argentinian “Miracle”

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1. Roy Turrentine says:

   December 5, 2024 at 10:08 am

   We have been here before. Reagan promised to create a massive privatization tide that would lift all ships. Forty years later, the little boats are sinking and the yachts are riding high. Been there, Milei. Done that, got the t-shirt at the goodwill in Suburbanville where some rich person made themselves feel better by donating their good clothes.

   There has never been a government that endured while starving its population. Letting avarice dominate society is not going to work.

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   • Steven says:

     December 5, 2024 at 10:31 am

     Ah, libertarians.

     Argentina and the US have few meaningful parallels. Th brand of socialism in Argentina has been extreme. Personally, I don’t believe in any “pure” economic system.

     Libertarianism is great if one already has resources to leverage or swim in markets. Not so great for people who don’t have that start though.

     Much of what Milei is seeking to privatize is already privatized here.

     What Musk wants is to decrease regulations so that he can become even wealthier.

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     • dianeravitch says:

       December 5, 2024 at 10:32 am

       It seems that Musk wants to be a historical figure: the first trillionaire.

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     • dianeravitch says:

       December 5, 2024 at 10:34 am

       Does Musk have a philanthropic foundation? Does he do anything for those less fortunate? I have never read of him giving to anyone.

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     • FLERP! says:

       December 5, 2024 at 11:42 am

       Be careful what you wish for.

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     • Roy Turrentine says:

       December 5, 2024 at 10:51 am

       Soon, as measured by time, Elon Musk, like all of us, will die. Upon his return to dust he will leave hundreds of idiots to fight over his remaining money, making various lawyers to achieve and fail at nothing.

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2. And, In Missouri says:

   December 5, 2024 at 10:24 am

   Throw out the Preamble and all those church sermons where these guys cross their fingers when they nod. — “Austerity has caused an increase in the poverty rate, which jumped to 53% in the first half of 2024 from 40% a year earlier.”

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3. retired teacher says:

   December 5, 2024 at 11:06 am

   As Diane has said, “Nobody voted for Musk.” Musk’s clout with Trump is a clear signal we are living in an oligarchy. Because some wild-eyed billionaire donated so much money to Trump, he gets to use our government agencies as his personal tinker toys and wreak economic havoc on our citizens.

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4. ECE Professional says:

   December 5, 2024 at 11:30 am

   What those who advocate for eliminating social programs (Libertarians included), such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid & Food Stamps, don’t tell you are the details, like how people who are currently on those programs are supposed to survive when they’re cut off –beyond claiming that they should be getting help from family and charities instead of the government. And what about the people who have no family who can (or will) help them? And what about the charities that are already struggling themselves? Social programs like that are called “entitlements” because WE paid into them with every paycheck for decades, so they are not government freebies, we ARE entitled to them. Would we get a refund –for both our own and our employers’ contributions?

   Those of us who get poverty level Social Security, such as retirement income for seniors or disability income, are already struggling and cannot work, so if they just cut us off and say, “that’s it, you’re on your own” it will literally be a death sentence. That’s because we couldn’t pay our rent or buy food, so we would lose everything we own, become homeless and starve. It was 12 degrees & very windy last night where I live. I would not last one week on the street here (and they recently shut down and demolished the homeless shelter in my area –which was run by one of those struggling charities). I don’t know how people who advocate for eliminating these programs can be so uncaring and heartless.

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   • ECE Professional says:

     December 5, 2024 at 1:50 pm

     Can anyone explain to me how people like former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan could be against programs like Social Security when, as a teenager, he got survivors benefits after his father died (which reportedly helped him pay for college) –besides his being influenced by Ayn Rand (yuck)? I mean, if he hated getting that money so much, why didn’t he refuse it?

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5. James Harvey says:

   December 5, 2024 at 8:15 pm

   “The cuts hurt. The economy entered a recession this year and unemployment jumped. The share of Argentines who are poor surged to 53%, “

   Astounding. After all that bullshit, we get to the heart of the matter.

   Of course. That’s the path we should pursue. What’s not to like about a society in which a handful are billionaires and most are poor?

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   • dianeravitch says:

     December 5, 2024 at 8:58 pm

     It really is disgusting.
     That’s Musk view of the world. Everyone gets his just desserts. Government should not intervene. Let the market judge.

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6. ECE Professional says:

   December 5, 2024 at 11:08 pm

   For those unfamiliar with the inherent issues with Libertarians in American society (many of whom are in the GOP) and the influence of Ayn Rand, I suggest reading this “Trump, His Billionaires, and Ayn Rand” https://betterlivingthroughbeowulf.com/trump-his-billionaires-and-ayn-rand/

   and especially the following from Thom Hartmann. “How Libertarianism is a Poison that’s Crept into America (Part 1)”: https://hartmannreport.com/p/how-libertarianism-is-a-poison-thats-684 and “Zuckerberg’s Libertarianism: Why Do Republicans Embrace Cruelty? (Part 2)”: https://hartmannreport.com/p/zuckerbergs-libertarianism-why-do-64a

   These articles can help to explain why we’re getting a morally bankrupt, selfish, malignant narcissist, billionaire who never grew up and is devoid of empathy in the WH again, as well as his equally self-centered billionaire cronies.

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7. gitapik says:

   December 6, 2024 at 8:38 am

   My good friend’s daughter married a partner in a well known financial institution. He’s a very fine person and he knows his stuff.

   His take: if they go through with their plans; they’ll have to put many, many of us on a fixed income. Then, if the changes “work,” gradually wean people off of the program according to need and ability.

   For the record: he’s against the proposed changes.

   Other side of the coin: find a young populist Democrat who’ll run on this platform:

   Making less than $200K: no taxes

   $200K and above: taxed. The more you make, the more you pay. Post WWII had some very high taxes for the wealthy. Somehow they managed to survive.

   That’s the elephant in the room. So many of these economic problems we’re facing would, at the very least, be eased if the wealthy would pony up.

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8. Birdchum says:

   December 6, 2024 at 3:29 pm

   The 12/9 issue of The New Yorker has an article on Milei.

   FWIW, there is NO comparison between the U.S. economy and Argentina ‘s. Milei is another tool in the libertarians’ toolbox.

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   • dianeravitch says:

     December 6, 2024 at 3:48 pm

     They cite Miles for his hatred of government and his slash/burn budget cuts. They cite Viktor Orban for his removal of civil rights and suppression of dissent.

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9. Olga Skorapa says:

   December 8, 2024 at 5:07 pm

   Under what guise is a poverty rate of 50% a miracle?

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