Elon Musk’s Poem About Space Stirs Up More Anti-Billionaire Sentiment

@elonmusk, @richardbranson, @besskalb /Twitter

July 14, 2021, 9:04 am

The idea of billionaires rocketing themselves into space has been even more controversial as of late, and Elon Musk isn’t helping.

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The man whose tweets have caused so many problems for his business that some topics now require approval from a lawyer tweeted out what appears to be a poem about space on Monday.

those who attack space
maybe don’t realize that
space represents hope
for so many people

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2021

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Musk seems to be responding to recent criticisms of Richard Branson kind of going up to space in his Virgin Galactic tourism spacecraft, as well as the Tesla CEO’s own $10,000 deposit to secure a seat on a future flight (the full price is reported to be a whopping quarter of a million dollars).

While Virgin Galactic is the current focus, Musk is also attempting his own foray into space exploration with SpaceX, with the ultimate goal being to enable the colonization of Mars. The criticisms of both billionaires revolve around their failure to put that money towards stopping the environmental destruction of our own planet and/or financially supporting the immediate betterment of society. Instead, they seem more interested in fulfilling the childhood fantasies of ultra-wealthy men such as themselves.

But that criticism appears lost on Musk, based on his framing of the backlash as people attacking space itself.

Nobody is attacking space.

We’re attacking billionaires who amassed vast fortunes on the backs of an exploited work force using those fortunes to hold an extravagant dick measuring contest instead of doing anything remotely helpful with their ill gotten gains.

— Zack Hunt (@ZaackHunt) July 13, 2021

Musk will always have his staunch defenders in Tesla fans and people who crave the lifestyle and wealth he has, but his critics can be just as loud. And they came out in droves to push back at his weird space poem and, as fruitless as it may be, to try to explain to him what the issue actually is, for the billionth time.

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Those who pay no taxes do not care.

— Geraldine (@divageraldine1) July 14, 2021

The 12 million children living in poverty right here in the US aren’t hoping to float in a space limo, they’re hoping you pay your fucking taxes so they can eat

— Rob Sheridan (@rob_sheridan) July 13, 2021

Imagine having an ego so big that you’re convinced the people criticising you are misguidedly attacking the universe itself https://t.co/nXCAIhpDRc

— Grace Rashford (@graceblakeley) July 13, 2021

So true. When people can’t afford their medication or other basic necessities I just tell them to look to the stars. For some reason I get punched a lot.

— Molly Hodgdon (@Manglewood) July 13, 2021

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Guys please don’t ruin this fun and hope for the wealthy! We promise to wave at you from space/tweet you when you’re all burning/freezing/drowning to death on Earth because you didn’t have the money/fucking Bitcoin to travel to space with us. Sad face. #BeKindToBillionaires https://t.co/r8LQdIQsvx

— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) July 13, 2021

Billionaires have decided a circle jerk in space is better than ending poverty.

— God (@thegoodgodabove) July 14, 2021

Seconded.

— Richard W – Please get vaccinated. Please. (@ilovaussiesheps) July 14, 2021

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No one is attacking space can we please stop propping these people up as ideological leaders simply because they’re wealthy https://t.co/zRnKGLf3yT

— DEFUND & ABOLISH POLICE, REFUND OUR COMMUNITIES (@BreeNewsome) July 14, 2021

this guy’s stupid little satellites notoriously interfere with observational astronomy, particularly with amateur astronomy/stargazing, which ironically is the closest almost any person who isn’t rich can or will ever get to enjoying outer space https://t.co/4YaDiji0A2

— SLUG (@generalslug) July 13, 2021

Space represents hope for billionaires, desperate to leave the misery and despair they’ve created on Earth so they can start again elsewhere

— RD Hale (@RD_HaIe) July 13, 2021

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*First Published: July 14, 2021, 9:04 am