BaalChatzaf Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Elon Musk is branching out from electric cars to batter supplemental power systems. Have a look here: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/01/tesla-announces-low-cost-solar-batteries-elon-musk For those of you who think Donald Trump is a Capitalist, eat your hearts out. Ba'al Chatzaf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkeyfoot Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Musk also founded SpaceX. Here is a 4 year video history of Falcon 9 which on April 8th returned to Earth landing atop a barge in roiling seas. This pioneered method allows reuse of its engines lowering costs to $40M per. "There also are signs that space exploration is about to undergo a renaissance with an explosion of creativity unseen in decades." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 On April 22, 2016 at 7:44 AM, BaalChatzaf said: Elon Musk is branching out from electric cars to batter supplemental power systems. Have a look here: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/01/tesla-announces-low-cost-solar-batteries-elon-musk For those of you who think Donald Trump is a Capitalist, eat your hearts out. Ba'al Chatzaf Hmmm. From Wikipedia: Quote ...In an interview with the Washington Post, Musk stated he was a "significant (though not top-tier) donor to Democrats, but that he also gives heavily to Republicans". Musk further stated, "in order to have your voice be heard in Washington, you have to make some little contribution."[111][112] A recent report from the Sunlight Foundation (a nonpartisan group that tracks government spending), found that "SpaceX has spent over US$4 million on lobbying Congress since it was established in 2002 and doled out more than US$800,000 in political contributions" to Democrats and Republicans. The same report noted that "SpaceX's campaign to win political support has been systematic and sophisticated", and that "unlike most tech-startups, SpaceX has maintained a significant lobbying presence in Washington almost since day 1". The report further noted that "Musk himself has donated roughly US$725,000 to various campaigns since 2002. In 2004, he contributed US$2,000 to President George W. Bush's reelection campaign, maxing out (over US$100,000)[113] to Obama's reelection campaign and donated US$5,000 to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who represents Florida, a state critical to the space industry ... All told, Musk and SpaceX gave out roughly US$250,000 in the 2012 election cycle.[111][114] Additionally, SpaceX hired former Republican Senate Majority LeaderTrent Lott to represent the company, via the Washington-based lobbying group Patton Boggs LLP. Alongside Patton Boggs LLP, SpaceX uses several other outside lobbying firms, who work alongside SpaceX's own lobbyists.[115] ...Musk has stated that he does not believe the U.S. government should provide subsidies to companies, is done with oil companies and Tesla Motors and SolarCity, but the government should instead use a carbon tax to price in the negative externality of air pollution and discourage "bad behavior"... That sounds quite similar to Trump. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaalChatzaf Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 20 minutes ago, Jonathan said: Hmmm. That sounds quite similar to Trump. J What new technology has Trump brought to us? He has played Monopoly (The Parker Brother's board game) with real hotels on t he Boardwalk. Trump is not Henry Ford. Trump is not Thomas Edison. Trump is not Ed Land (the inventor of polaroid filters and instant photography). Trump is a speculator, which means the real estate market is the casino in which he gambles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 1 minute ago, BaalChatzaf said: What new technology has Trump brought to us? He has played Monopoly (The Parker Brother's board game) with real hotels on t he Boardwalk. Trump is not Henry Ford. Trump is not Thomas Edison. Trump is not Ed Land (the inventor of polaroid filters and instant photography). Trump is a speculator, which means the real estate market is the casino in which he gambles. Is that the measure of a "real capitalist"? One must bring new technologies, or one is not a capitalist? The point of my post was not to compare Trump and Musk in every way, and to then suggest that Musk is not greater than Trump in any way, but rather to point out that Musk, just like Trump, has done some things that are not exactly the behavior of a "real capitalist." As for your statement about Trump being a speculator, all business is speculation. Including your boyfriend Musk's. Technology is the casino in which he gambles. Trump is a builder. Is his line of work as creative and innovative as Musks? No, it's not. Does that make Musk's line of work a virtue and Trump's a vice? No, it doesn't. Does your having a crush on Musk and boner for technology make all other interests and occupations bad and disgusting and anti-capitalist? No. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaalChatzaf Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 17 hours ago, Jonathan said: Is that the measure of a "real capitalist"? One must bring new technologies, or one is not a capitalist? The point of my post was not to compare Trump and Musk in every way, and to then suggest that Musk is not greater than Trump in any way, but rather to point out that Musk, just like Trump, has done some things that are not exactly the behavior of a "real capitalist." As for your statement about Trump being a speculator, all business is speculation. Including your boyfriend Musk's. Technology is the casino in which he gambles. Trump is a builder. Is his line of work as creative and innovative as Musks? No, it's not. Does that make Musk's line of work a virtue and Trump's a vice? No, it doesn't. Does your having a crush on Musk and boner for technology make all other interests and occupations bad and disgusting and anti-capitalist? No. J Yes. A real capitalist either invents new stuff or improved technology or causes new stuff to be invented by way of prudential investment of has capital. or a capitalist renders a useful service. For example the founders of UPS, the people who made it possible for powerful computers to be available to virtually everyone. What has Trump brought to the public? Some hotels? I am underwhelmed But don't mind me too much. I am a science and technology snob. If Trump is a Real Capitalist he occupies the lower levels of that category. And what he does is not a vice. He is a Phillistine and a crude person. That is not a vice either. But it is not pleasant or inspiring. Would you want your child to use Trump as an inspiration or a role model? I wouldn't want any of my grandchildren to be like Trump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 On April 24, 2016 at 5:31 AM, BaalChatzaf said: Yes. A real capitalist either invents new stuff or improved technology or causes new stuff to be invented by way of prudential investment of has capital. or a capitalist renders a useful service. For example the founders of UPS, the people who made it possible for powerful computers to be available to virtually everyone. What has Trump brought to the public? Some hotels? I am underwhelmed Heh. "Some hotels." Have you visited any of his properties? You're underwhelmed, huh? So, then, I would imagine that you could easily do better than Trump has in the hotel business? Nothin' to it? Anyway, we could apply to anyone your little method of looking down your nose at others' achievements, including Musk: What has he done? Why, he has puttered around with a couple of computer programs and internet thingies, and tinkered with some motors and solar panels. I'm underwhelmed! He's no Edison! On April 24, 2016 at 5:31 AM, BaalChatzaf said: But don't mind me too much. I am a science and technology snob. If Trump is a Real Capitalist he occupies the lower levels of that category. And what he does is not a vice. He is a Phillistine and a crude person. That is not a vice either. But it is not pleasant or inspiring. Would you want your child to use Trump as an inspiration or a role model? I wouldn't want any of my grandchildren to be like Trump. I'd rather my kids or grandkids grow up to be similar to Trump than to any of the other presidential candidates, with the possible exception of Rand Paul. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaalChatzaf Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 3 hours ago, Jonathan said: Heh. "Some hotels." Have you visited any of his properties? You're underwhelmed, huh? So, then, I would imagine that you could easily do better than Trump has in the hotel business? Nothin' to it? Anyway, we could apply to anyone your little method of looking down your nose at others' achievements, including Musk: What has he done? Why, he has puttered around with a couple of computer programs and internet thingies, and tinkered with some motors and solar panels. I'm underwhelmed! He's no Edison! I'd rather my kids or grandkids grow up to be similar to Trump than to any of the other presidential candidates, with the possible exception of Rand Paul. J I do not claim to be a capitalist., At most I am a prudent investor of my limited funds. Musk has caused a spaceship to be built which eventually will make it unnecessary to buy rides on Russian vehicles. He is also bring forth a practical electric car and he just might produce a battery that will make solar and wind power practical. Other than that, I can't think of anything. I want my grandchildren to have Good Manners. Trump is a boorish lout. Six billion dollars is no excuse for Bad Manners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 You're not a capitalist? What are you, then? Commie? Socialist? Fascist? J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaalChatzaf Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 13 hours ago, Jonathan said: You're not a capitalist? What are you, then? Commie? Socialist? Fascist? J Techno-nerd. I am retired now. When I was active I was an applied mathematician and a software designer. I never founded a business firm. I was a highly skilled technician and I peddled my labor and services in exchange for a wage. If you had asked what kind of an economic system I prefer, I would answer given the choices now available, I prefer capitalism operating within the social and legal context of a rights observant republic. You should understand that not everything reduces to ideology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merjet Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 14 hours ago, BaalChatzaf said: I do not claim to be a capitalist., At most I am a prudent investor of my limited funds. 11 minutes ago, BaalChatzaf said: Techno-nerd. I am retired now. When I was active I was an applied mathematician and a software designer. I never founded a business firm. I was a highly skilled technician and I peddled my labor and services in exchange for a wage. If you had asked what kind of an economic system I prefer, I would answer given the choices now available, I prefer capitalism operating within the social and legal context of a rights observant republic. A better description for you would be a capitalist but not an entrepreneur. The capitalist part has two senses; (1) a supporter of capitalism, and (2) one who derives income from capital in the form of interest, dividends, and capital gains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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