Free Speech and Elon Musk

 

I have long argued that we should focus more on ideas than on the people who endorse them. I still believe that. Ideas are enduring; people too often are not. But when a man or woman makes a significant stand for an idea that’s praiseworthy, that in itself is praiseworthy. Without losing sight of what matters — of the idea — it’s appropriate to praise those who champion it.

Elon Musk claims to be championing an idea that I hold dear, one that is, as I’ve written many times, of paramount importance today, the idea of free and unfettered speech. Indeed, I think it is the single most important challenge faced by those of us who would preserve our country and its values.

Nothing in Musk’s history or conduct has led me to doubt his sincerity, and so I am optimistic that he will follow through on his promise to open Twitter to a diversity of viewpoints, and in doing so will restore an essential balance to America’s cultural and political landscape.

I’m very pleased.


You can now find me on Twitter as @HankRacette. Assuming the deal goes through and Musk keeps his word, I’ll remain there.

Published in Technology
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 94 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    An awful lot of technology development is military-needs driven, even canned food was.

    I’ll not rightly consider an EV until the military shows that they outperform ICEs, for every mission from short-term, in-and-out missions to conducting a country’s long-term pacification.

    Just for example, to refill a few personnel carriers takes a tanker truck. To recharge a few electric personnel carriers takes a fuel truck to supply the energy and a generator truck to supply the electricity. Or else a nuclear-powered generator truck. Or a Mr. Fusion.

    If we never went to the moon we wouldn’t have Tang!

    But seriously, there’s nothing wrong with EV’s for some things and not for others. A lot of people commute.

    I live in the middle of the I-95 corridor that connects Washington Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. I also happen to spend two months a year in Texas, a very different place (although plenty of Texans commute too) But a lot of pick-up trucks, and for good reason.

    Tesla is a quite viable successful company worldwide. Because the system wouldn’t be practical on frontline military operation is no indication of its value to others.

    At some point this will all be solved

    I love the Mr. Fusion idea!

    Except Mr Fusion only powered the time circuits, not the regular car-going stuff.

    I’d like a citation on this please. Do you know how much energy it takes to levitate a flying car and spin is on three axes at the same time?

    Answer: Lots.

    From Back To The Future 3:

    No specific mention of the flying stuff, but you wouldn’t really be able to fly in and out of your garage anyway.

    I asked for this, didn’t I?

    Also from that movie:

    Again, no indication of what POWERED the flying.

    But this does give plenty of food or thought.  If just one Ghostbuster was there with his plasma stream projector, these movies might have turned out much differently.

    • #91
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    An awful lot of technology development is military-needs driven, even canned food was.

    I’ll not rightly consider an EV until the military shows that they outperform ICEs, for every mission from short-term, in-and-out missions to conducting a country’s long-term pacification.

    Just for example, to refill a few personnel carriers takes a tanker truck. To recharge a few electric personnel carriers takes a fuel truck to supply the energy and a generator truck to supply the electricity. Or else a nuclear-powered generator truck. Or a Mr. Fusion.

    If we never went to the moon we wouldn’t have Tang!

    But seriously, there’s nothing wrong with EV’s for some things and not for others. A lot of people commute.

    I live in the middle of the I-95 corridor that connects Washington Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. I also happen to spend two months a year in Texas, a very different place (although plenty of Texans commute too) But a lot of pick-up trucks, and for good reason.

    Tesla is a quite viable successful company worldwide. Because the system wouldn’t be practical on frontline military operation is no indication of its value to others.

    At some point this will all be solved

    I love the Mr. Fusion idea!

    Except Mr Fusion only powered the time circuits, not the regular car-going stuff.

    I’d like a citation on this please. Do you know how much energy it takes to levitate a flying car and spin is on three axes at the same time?

    Answer: Lots.

    From Back To The Future 3:

    No specific mention of the flying stuff, but you wouldn’t really be able to fly in and out of your garage anyway.

    I asked for this, didn’t I?

    Also from that movie:

    Again, no indication of what POWERED the flying.

    But this does give plenty of food or thought. If just one Ghostbuster was there with his plasma stream projector, these movies might have turned out much differently.

    Or one helicopter from The Final Countdown.

    • #92
  3. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    An awful lot of technology development is military-needs driven, even canned food was.

    I’ll not rightly consider an EV until the military shows that they outperform ICEs, for every mission from short-term, in-and-out missions to conducting a country’s long-term pacification.

    Just for example, to refill a few personnel carriers takes a tanker truck. To recharge a few electric personnel carriers takes a fuel truck to supply the energy and a generator truck to supply the electricity. Or else a nuclear-powered generator truck. Or a Mr. Fusion.

    If we never went to the moon we wouldn’t have Tang!

    But seriously, there’s nothing wrong with EV’s for some things and not for others. A lot of people commute.

    I live in the middle of the I-95 corridor that connects Washington Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. I also happen to spend two months a year in Texas, a very different place (although plenty of Texans commute too) But a lot of pick-up trucks, and for good reason.

    Tesla is a quite viable successful company worldwide. Because the system wouldn’t be practical on frontline military operation is no indication of its value to others.

    At some point this will all be solved

    I love the Mr. Fusion idea!

    Except Mr Fusion only powered the time circuits, not the regular car-going stuff.

    I’d like a citation on this please. Do you know how much energy it takes to levitate a flying car and spin is on three axes at the same time?

    Answer: Lots.

    From Back To The Future 3:

    No specific mention of the flying stuff, but you wouldn’t really be able to fly in and out of your garage anyway.

    I asked for this, didn’t I?

    Also from that movie:

    Again, no indication of what POWERED the flying.

    But this does give plenty of food or thought. If just one Ghostbuster was there with his plasma stream projector, these movies might have turned out much differently.

    Or one helicopter from The Final Countdown.

    Wasn’t that Doc in the limo at the end?

    • #93
  4. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    An awful lot of technology development is military-needs driven, even canned food was.

    I’ll not rightly consider an EV until the military shows that they outperform ICEs, for every mission from short-term, in-and-out missions to conducting a country’s long-term pacification.

    Just for example, to refill a few personnel carriers takes a tanker truck. To recharge a few electric personnel carriers takes a fuel truck to supply the energy and a generator truck to supply the electricity. Or else a nuclear-powered generator truck. Or a Mr. Fusion.

    If we never went to the moon we wouldn’t have Tang!

    But seriously, there’s nothing wrong with EV’s for some things and not for others. A lot of people commute.

    I live in the middle of the I-95 corridor that connects Washington Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. I also happen to spend two months a year in Texas, a very different place (although plenty of Texans commute too) But a lot of pick-up trucks, and for good reason.

    Tesla is a quite viable successful company worldwide. Because the system wouldn’t be practical on frontline military operation is no indication of its value to others.

    At some point this will all be solved

    I love the Mr. Fusion idea!

    Except Mr Fusion only powered the time circuits, not the regular car-going stuff.

    I’d like a citation on this please. Do you know how much energy it takes to levitate a flying car and spin is on three axes at the same time?

    Answer: Lots.

    From Back To The Future 3:

    No specific mention of the flying stuff, but you wouldn’t really be able to fly in and out of your garage anyway.

    I asked for this, didn’t I?

    Also from that movie:

    Again, no indication of what POWERED the flying.

    But this does give plenty of food or thought. If just one Ghostbuster was there with his plasma stream projector, these movies might have turned out much differently.

    Or one helicopter from The Final Countdown.

    Wasn’t that Doc in the limo at the end?

    Kinda looked like him, but no, it was just aged James Farentino.

    • #94
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.