Taxpayer Subsidies Helped Tesla Motors, So Why Does Elon Musk Slam Them?

[Mother Muckraker]

Full Article:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/tesla-motors-free-ride-elon-musk-government-subsidies

Yet Musk is also emblematic of a curious strain of denial that seems to infect Silicon Valley as a whole. His breakaway success is a powerful reminder of how the public sector can turbocharge innovation. It brings to mind the government-backed $500,000 investment in a young startup known as Apple—and the federal grants that funded the prototype for Google. But rather than becoming poster boys for public-private partnership, Musk and other Valley entrepreneurs have gone out of their way to distance themselves from their patron. Shortly after paying off his $465 million loan, Musk proclaimed that government should no longer provide such assistance. A "carbon tax would be a better way," he tweeted, adding: "Yes, am arguing against subsidies and in favor of a tax on the end bad created. Market will then achieve best solution."

[Trillo]

1. There's a simpler explanation.

They don't want competitors.

"I got mine, now fuck off."

[erpowers]

2. They Prefer The Business Creation Myth

People like Elon Musk get so much from the business creation myth. How would people's view of Elon Musk change if it was mentioned more often that he was given a $450 million loan that helped him create Tesla Motors? $450 million is a large sum of money. How many people would continue to call him a genius if they knew about that large sum of money?

In addition, it seems the business creation myth is easier on the egos of people like Elon Musk than reality. The business creation myth allows them to feel unique. It may not be the case that if you gave every American adult $450 million each person would be able to create a successful business, but I imagine a number of people would be able to do such a thing. $500,000 is a much smaller amount of money than $450 million, but how many people would have created a successful business if they had been given $500,000, even as a loan? How many people could have started a business with far less than that amount of money. So, reality may take away the idea of the uniqueness of people like Elon Musk. Contrary to the claims of some, the Elon Musks of the world may not be rare gems.

Furthermore, I think the benefits gained through the business creation myth should be discussed. People like Elon Musk have fame, fortune, and admiration. Even though the Iron Man comic predates Elon Musk, the director of the movie modeled the character after Musk. As far as I know he also dates models and makes large sums of money each year. Pointing out often that the government gave him hundreds of millions of dollars might cause him to question whether the benefits he has comes from the government. I think that may do something negative to the egos of people like Elon Musk. They want to see themselves as geniuses. They want to believe that everything they have is only as a result of their actions; not the actions of the government.