Elon Musk and his fleet of machines have single-handedly bypassed American democracy, circumventing elections and nominations. With one endorsement from the man we idiotically call president, Musk has embedded himself within our crumbling republic. Now, Musk is at the helm of DOGE (Department of Government Efficacy), which, in theory, aims to eliminate wasteful spending. While this may sound like a novel concept, it is far from new. The Clinton administration launched NPR (National Partnership for Reinventing Government), which was championed by then-Vice President Al Gore. Unlike DOGE, NPR was led by an elected official—someone holding significant power within the established system. In stark contrast, DOGE is spearheaded by a non-elected billionaire from South Africa.
Although NPR faced criticism and controversy, it at least operated within the framework of constitutional legality and oversight from elected officials. By contrast, Musk’s bulldozing approach, which has been unchecked by elected bodies, leaves Americans questioning who truly has our backs. Many feel that no one does.
When the power of democracy is seized by billionaire elites, and our voices are drowned out, what’s left for the American people to do? Many have turned to the ideology of burning it all down. History reminds us that violence is never the solution, but the reality is that Americans have been pushed to the brink. Morality, dignity and decency are (like the republic) crumbling and the symbols of power—like Musk and his superglued electric cars—have become the embodiment of the enemy.
Vandalism of Tesla cars and showrooms have all become a form of defiance. But, can it get worse? Yes, it can: The national response to these acts was another nail in the coffin of where we stand as a nation. “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,” stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Never mind the dead elementary school children due to gun violence, or never mind the insurrectionists storming the Capitol. The Teslas are what America deems worth saving, so much so that those who target them are now classified as terrorists. The vigilante spirit is rising in America, and we are physically (and literally) raging against the machine—a machine that stands in opposition to the will of the people.
The current poster boy of vigilante America is Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering a healthcare insurance CEO in an act of defiance. The crime, while significant, is not what fascinates the American people most. What’s truly compelling is the way Mangione has become a symbol of American heroism—someone who stood up to the injustice forced upon him. His actions, undoubtedly unethical, strike a chord with the public. If the American people are now bonded by rage, what more can we expect, if murder has already occurred? More-so, what does it say about American society that our hero of the moment is a murderer?
We can’t help but be reminded of the ‘90s band Rage Against the Machine, whose debut album’s cover depicted the highest form of protest. “Taken in 1963 by photographer Malcolm Browne, the image shows a Mahayana Buddhist monk named Thích Queng Đec, who had willingly set himself on fire,” wrote Ben Forrest in Far Out Magazine. “This act of self-immolation was an act of protest against the government of President Ngô Đình Diem.” In the lens of today’s eyes, the irony isn’t lost that sitting behind the emblazoned monk is a stalled vehicle, painfully symbolic of the machine plaguing the United States today.
Musk has notably been squirming, and the stock plunge now occurring with Tesla may be bringing the billionaire bureaucrat down to our level—the level of stress and anxiety over being unfairly targeted and, needless to say, oppressed. “Tesla is a peaceful company that has made great cars, great products. That’s all it’s done. It hasn’t harmed anyone. And yet people are committing violence,” Musk said on Fox News in a recent interview.
Most angrily, all Musk had to do is whine to his store-bought officials to declare it a terrorist attack. If only the parents of the children lost to gun violence would have whined to elected officials and demand justice… oh wait, they did! So, forgive the few who are reveling in the pleasure of seeing a billionaire squirm at the loss of a few billion dollars. What Musk is feeling now—the instability of his livelihood, the sheer unfairness of attacks on anything symbolizing his existence, and the outward hatred of him being where he doesn’t belong—is, unfortunately, the new American dream realized. We can only beg to ask Musk: How does it feel to be so American? How does it feel to be one of us now, oppressed? Violence is never the answer, but when the American people are silenced, ignored and pushed to rage we can’t help but ask what else is there to do…but rage against the machine!
‘Cause the circle of hatred continues unless we react
We gotta take the power back” – Rage Against the Machine