Amy Hamm argues that Elon Musk, having become the world's first trillionaire, has cemented his status as a supervillain among envious critics who are embarrassing themselves. She responds to a Globe and Mail op-ed that initially urged readers to hate Musk, later revising its headline after backlash. Hamm contends that the attacks on Musk stem from divergent views, envy, and tall poppy syndrome, not legitimate concerns.
The Globe and Mail's Non-Apology
Last week, The Globe and Mail issued a distinctly non-apologetic mea culpa over their op-ed headline, “SpaceX IPO makes Elon Musk the first trillionaire. Here’s how to properly hate him.” The paper subsequently announced on social media and in an editor’s note that the previous headline did not meet their editorial standard and was replaced. The new headline asks if Musk’s achievement is a “bad look for capitalism.” Columnist Chris Gay’s first paragraph questions if it is “okay to despise him just for being one,” concluding that Musk’s allegedly “often-malignant influence” makes it easier to “excite class warfare.”
Critique of Gay's Thesis
Gay’s thesis, laid bare, is that we must shift focus from any argument over the “fairness” of Musk’s wealth accumulation onto Musk’s politics. “Most importantly, concentrated wealth means concentrated political power that tends, in a self-reinforcing cycle, to exacerbate economic inequality,” wrote Gay, who clearly views Musk as a nefarious plutocrat with all the wrong ideas. Musk engages in “gratuitous political provocations,” wrote Gay, pointing to Musk’s criticism of a congressional budget that President Trump also opposed and Musk’s four-month stint heading Trump’s now disbanded Department of Government Efficiency—which Musk has since described as only “a little bit successful” and not something he wants to repeat.
Hamm questions whether Gay would make the same argument if Musk were the richest man on earth but keen on orthodox leftist political provocations. She suspects not, and that Gay would be the type to slap an “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” bumper sticker onto a Tesla, if he had one.
Properly Loving Elon Musk
Hamm suggests ways to properly love Elon Musk for being the world’s greatest entrepreneur. Musk has built important things and stood up for important principles. While we generally cannot predict who will enter the annals of history, not a truthful soul can deny that Musk’s name will never be forgotten. SpaceX has revolutionized satellite and rocket technology in ways that no government space programs arguably could have done in such a short time. Reusable rockets? Not without Musk. Commercial space travel? Again, not without Musk—or at least not for decades and without enormous political will and taxpayer funding. Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet service, has made connectivity in war and disaster zones a reality.
Hamm concludes that the Globe’s and similar attacks on Musk are motivated by divergent views, envy, and tall poppy syndrome—nothing more.
