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\u2014someone holding significant power within the established system. In stark contrast, DOGE is spearheaded by a non-elected billionaire from South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although NPR faced criticism and controversy, it at least operated within the framework of constitutional legality and oversight from elected officials. By contrast, Musk\u2019s bulldozing approach, which has been unchecked by elected bodies, leaves Americans questioning who truly has our backs. Many feel that no one does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the power of democracy is seized by billionaire elites, and our voices are drowned out, what\u2019s 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\u2014like Musk and his superglued electric cars\u2014have become the embodiment of the enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. \u201cThe 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,\u201d 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\u2014a machine that stands in opposition to the will of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s truly compelling is the way Mangione has become a symbol of American heroism\u2014someone 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? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can\u2019t help but be reminded of the \u201890s band Rage Against the Machine, whose debut album\u2019s cover depicted the highest form of protest. \u201cTaken in 1963 by photographer Malcolm Browne, the image shows a Mahayana Buddhist monk named Th\u00edch Queng \u0110ec, who had willingly set himself on fire,\u201d wrote Ben Forrest in Far Out Magazine. \u201cThis act of self-immolation was an act of protest against the government of President Ng\u00f4 \u0110\u00ecnh Diem.\u201d In the lens of today\u2019s eyes, the irony isn\u2019t lost that sitting behind the emblazoned monk is a stalled vehicle, painfully symbolic of the machine plaguing the United States today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk has notably been squirming, and the stock plunge now occurring with Tesla may be bringing the billionaire bureaucrat down to our level\u2014the level of stress and anxiety over being unfairly targeted and, needless to say, oppressed. \u201cTesla is a peaceful company that has made great cars, great products. That\u2019s all it\u2019s done. It hasn\u2019t harmed anyone. And yet people are committing violence,\u201d Musk said on Fox News in a recent interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2026 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\u2014the instability of his livelihood, the sheer unfairness of attacks on anything symbolizing his existence, and the outward hatred of him being where he doesn\u2019t belong\u2014is, 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\u2019t help but ask what else is there to do\u2026but rage against the machine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Cause the circle of hatred continues unless we react<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We gotta take the power back\u201d \u2013 Rage Against the Machine <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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