Elon Musk, the South African-born multi-billionaire who has founded several companies, including Tesla and Space X, has jumped into the 2024 presidential race with a curious stunt in support of Donald Trump. He’s offering USD 1 million to anyone who signs his pledge to support free speech and the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Pennsylvania State Attorney General Michelle Henry filed suit against Musk; stating the giveaway is technically a lottery not sanctioned by state officials. But Pennsylvania State Judge Angelo Foglietta stopped the litigation by refusing to block the Musk’s antics. Instead, he deferred the matter to a federal court and noted that Henry’s suit probably won’t be resolved before Election Day, next Tuesday.
I could care less whether this foreign-born tax cheat wants to engage in such capers. One million dollars to any average person is attractive, including myself. But my vote is more important than that. So is everyone else’s.
It seems every major election in the U.S. since 2000 has gotten more and more weird. I remain cynical, as my displeasure with government at all levels in this country grows. Both major political parties have become increasingly dominated by extremists. Regardless of the office they’re seeking, candidates have always played initially to their base; those unmovable die-hards who will vote for one side no matter what. Then, once the candidate has secured the nomination, they expand their outreach to persuade as many others as possible.
Over the past decade, however, Donald Trump has preached to one group and only one group: his faithful (and fanatical) acolytes. He mocks them, in a way, behind their collective backs; the same way false prophets ridicule their blind minions.
From a political standpoint, I consider myself left of center, but I’ve voted consistently Democrat since 1992. Then came 2016 and I went rogue by voting for Jill Stein of the Green Party. I didn’t care for Trump and I never liked Hillary Clinton. Now I absolutely despise Trump and don’t care for Vice-President Kamala Harris. Recently various European chapters of the Green Party have begged Stein to withdraw from the presidential race and support Harris. At this point, though, it may be too late.
I’m not – and never have been – persuaded by editorial or celebrity endorsements of a particular candidate. Musk can keep his money – and settle in comfortably at one of Trump’s estates. I’ll vote my conscious, for whatever that’s worth in these chaotic days. Besides, official Election Day, November 5, will be my 61st birthday. I won’t spend it thinking about politicians.
Image: Gary McCoy
Chief Writing Wolf 