Summary

Elon Musk sparked controversy by falsely claiming entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have “$700 billion” in fraud annually, vastly exaggerating the actual figure (~$10 billion/year).

Musk labeled Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and spread conspiracies about immigrants exploiting the system.

Critics argue Musk’s ignorance and conspiracy-mongering threaten essential public programs and data privacy, while his inflammatory rhetoric—such as calling Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and combat veteran, a “traitor”—reinforces demands for his immediate removal from government.

  • Anivia@feddit.org
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    10 hours ago

    Musk labeled Social Security a “Ponzi scheme”

    Well, he is correct about that. But in true republican fashion his solution is to get rid of it, instead of reforming it to be more sustainable without infinite population growth

  • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    16 hours ago

    Maybe stop using “unelected”. Most of the cabinet is technically “unelected”. Focus on the part where he did not get a senate confirmation.

    Like… he must be so unpopular if he can’t even get a republican controlled senate to approve him.

  • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    Republicans are doing a great job on both sides…social security in case your luck fucks out, and the market in case your thought you could get away:

    Who said retirement? That’s illegal! You and I will be working for elon until we both end up 6’ under. (By that I mean fucking dead like a month Python parrot)

  • meowmeowbeanz@sopuli.xyz
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    18 hours ago

    Unelected tech lord deciding grandma’s retirement funds is exactly the cyberpunk hellscape novels warned us about.

    🐱

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
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    22 hours ago

    Social Security is a non-partisan red line.

    If this chode killed it his chances of survival would plummet.

    • InvertedParallax@lemm.ee
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      18 hours ago

      I really hope he fucks with it.

      I would buy all the popcorn to watch 2 million boomers walk up Pennsylvania Avenue to Gaddafi his ass for days.

    • PyroNeurosis@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      20 hours ago

      That the case may be, but he’d be a martyr for the ultra-capitalistic sorts that make these efforts their life’s work.

      A despicable end, but one that may appeal to Musk himself.

      • ZoopZeZoop@lemmy.world
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        18 hours ago

        Nah. No one would mourn him. The next ultra rich person would learn from his mistakes, but continue on with his work.

  • cool@lemmings.world
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    13 hours ago

    We can’t move to direct voting quickly enough.

    Get these “representatives” out of power and put them in regular jobs like the rest of us.

    • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      15 hours ago

      Everyone’s situation is different, but for me: I’m not white and only have derived citizenship (as opposed to “natural born” citizenship), and my dad is still a Chinese Citizen (because he sucks at English for natualization test). They are already trying to deport Mahmoud Khalil. Can’t risk putting a target on my family’s back.

      CCP is hostile and already tried killing me, theres no going back (not that I have Chinese Citizenship anymore anyways). I could end up stateless and that’s not fun.

      My only hope is that the fascists are incompetent and elections still exist in the future.

      I think protesting is a very brave thing to do, but I also can’t blame anyone for not doing so. Its very risky.

    • Verdant Banana@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      People in the US think politics is just another soap opera on the daytime TV that has nothing to do with their lives just like watching celebrities and Trump was picked because he adds to all that

      Biden was deliberately put in office to be a good step stool for Trump

  • RabbitBBQ@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    He may not be elected but he paid the guy who got elected a ton of money, so that’s basically the same as being elected… Right? Right?!?

  • numlok@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    before his slash-and-burn nonsense and warped views of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cause a spike in the sale of pitchforks.

    Ha. I’d argue the time for pitchforks is already here.

      • ysjet@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        He’s been wearing that kid like a hat ever since that CEO got shot. First time anyone had EVER seen the kid in public, too, and suddenly he hasn’t been seen anywhere without him.

        • frunch@lemmy.world
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          18 hours ago

          I hope he continues to give that kid rides on his shoulders, that someday it’ll be a full-grown man getting rides from his pops. He’ll have to duck to get through doors

      • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        It’s a strange tactic coming from someone who supports Israel, where “human shield” is used as justification to destroy said shield along with the target.

    • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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      22 hours ago

      And doesn’t the man have like a zillion kids with multiple different women?

      Imagine being one of Musk’s other children. You know, the ones who don’t get their attention from their father while this one random kid gets all of it.

      • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        22 hours ago

        “Imagine being one of Musk’s other children. You know, the ones who don’t get picked to be daddy’s human shield due to their small size and ability to be held up in front of bullets.”

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    He needs to be able to steal that money, you guyzzzzz!

    Enriching fElon is about “efficiency”, at least according to MOE - the Ministry of Efficiency, where up is down, black is white.