Elon Musk’s Political Influence Wears Down Global Resistance to Starlink

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1. *From Bloomberg News reporters Bruce Einhorn and Loni Prinsloo:*

   Elon Musk left South Africa aged 18 to seek his fortune in North America. Thirty-five years and $468 billion in net-worth later, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has come knocking for investments from Musk’s array of companies.

   The two share a country of birth, but that’s not all. Musk has crossed into the political sphere as a leading adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, and he wants something from Ramaphosa: dilution of a local Black ownership requirement for his Starlink satellite network.

   The push and pull in South Africa is just one example of how the [global wall](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-03-25/elon-musk-s-spacex-sees-starlink-black-market-trade-grow-worldwide) of resistance to Musk’s satellite business is crumbling.

2. Vote with your wallet, don’t buy Starlink

3. Musk has demonstrated nothing but the highest standards of professional behaviour and humanitarian thinking.

   He can absolutely be completely trusted with providing internet to the dark corners of the earth where coverage of the empire does not yet exert influence.

   He’d never do anything to sway opinion or limit access to information or provide location information on military units to a hostile power so they can target them with precision attacks.

   Never.

   He’s a saint.

4. Musk is attempting what many, not all, super rich people have tried in the past: mold the world to their image.

   In the past, rich people would create foundations, pay politicians, or try to change history books, stuff like that, but they’d rarely get themselves involved in politics. They know it’s a dangerous game; not only to their wealth, but to their safety

   It’s clear to me that Trump, far right parties across the globe, and other entities are pawn on Musk chess board. He’d be naive if he thinks these pawns won’t turn against him when politically convenient. That’s not counting on political enemies that he’ll accumulate with time

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