World News

988 readers

1075 users here now

Rules:

Be a decent person
No spam
Add the byline, or write a line or two in the body about the article.

Other communities of interest:

!usa@ponder.cat

founded 6 months ago

MODERATORS

Deceptichum@quokk.au

Grainne@lemmy.dbzer0.com

PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat

236

Elon Musk Trying to Scrap NASA's Moon Program (futurism.com)

submitted 3 months ago by Domino to c/world@quokk.au

48 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Consequently, the South African billionaire has been put in charge of a so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" to excise $2 trillion from the national budget. Whether this advisory group will be able to take aim at the Artemis program remains to be seen.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] leftytighty@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

This isn't necessarily true and making this argument gives people an easy way to refute the idea of raising taxes.

Kropotkin conveyed it best:

It is told of Rothschild that, seeing his fortune threatened by the Revolution of 1848, he hit upon the following stratagem: “I am quite willing to admit,” said he, “that my fortune has been accumulated at the expense of others, but if it were divided to-morrow among the millions of Europe, the share of each would only amount to five shillings. Very well, then, I undertake to render to each his five shillings if he asks me for it.”

Having given due publicity to his promise, our millionaire proceeded as usual to stroll quietly through the streets of Frankfort. Three or four passers-by asked for their five shillings, which he disbursed with a sardonic smile. His stratagem succeeded, and the family of the millionaire is still in possession of its wealth.

We need more systemic change. Granted, a tax policy could be permanent systemic change, but without corresponding political and economic change it's just as likely to be undone immediately.