How the U.S. government came to rely on the tech billionaire—and is now struggling to rein him in.
  • partial_accumen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    87·
    1 year ago

    If SpaceX is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.

    Remove the SpaceX name from that statement and the statement is just as crazy.

    Examples:

    • If Verizon is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If Raytheon is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If Northrup Grumman is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If General Dynamics Electric Boat is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If Honeywell International is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If Boeing is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.
    • If Norfolk Southern Railway is that critical to national defense & foreign policy, it should be nationalized.

    It just isn’t our country’s way to steal a company from its owners or shareholders. Its a bit frightening you think it should be.

    • EvilBit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      111·
      1 year ago

      Most or all of your examples have meaningfully valid competitors in the space. SpaceX does not, at least not yet.

        • EvilBit@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          1 year ago

          No, it’s that as an effective monopoly, it has unreasonable power over the government.

          • partial_accumen@lemmy.worldEnglish
            23·
            1 year ago

            You’re 17 years too late to use that argument in good faith. Not only is SpaceX not a monopoly (because there are many other companies you can buy launch services from in the USA) but because that wasn’t the case in 2006 when Boeing and Lockheed (with USA government consent!) created a TRUE launch monopoly by merging to create ULA (United Launch Alliance).

    • iturnedintoanewt@lemm.eeEnglish
      41·
      1 year ago

      So… In your opinion, it should be allowed to operate like any normal company without restrictions? What would happen if, say, a powerful Chinese investor attempted to buy it outright?

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        So… In your opinion, it should be allowed to operate like any normal company without restrictions?

        I can’t tell what you’re trying to say with your first sentence. Most companies DO have specific restrictions based upon their industry, environmental impact, and various forms of regulatory compliance. SpaceX isn’t an exception.

        What would happen if, say, a powerful Chinese investor attempted to buy it outright?

        It likely wouldn’t be allowed just like other national strategic companies. What is your point with that?

        • 9point6@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          And what if a nation bought the guy in charge? You know, like has potentially already happened with the PIF

    • misk@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      There’s a caveat. Most countries will heavily regulate access to limited resources, for example radio frequency bands. SpaceX is occupying defined orbit which means it’s perfectly reasonable to ensure society benefits from this privilege.