The world has always been controlled by the whims and eccentricities of the rich and powerful. While their names change with the passage of time, their intractable influence does not. As a result, these captivating and polarizing individuals are regarded both as saints and denigrated as demons, and Elon Musk is no exception.However, based on the present level of ire that Musk is drawing from left leaning media outlets, pundits and politicians, one would think that the man was a real-life Bond villain. Except instead of some elaborate death ray, his doomsday device is nothing more than a social media platform where free speech flourishes and he regularly shares his own opinions.But it isn’t the fact that Musk is simply an opinionated billionaire that has garnered him the wrath of these groups. In effect he’s no different than any other influential magnate with their idiosyncrasies, preferred political affiliations, and odd theories about how the world should work.No, the issue is that his viewpoints run counter to those of other elites, and worse still, that he challenges that well-entrenched hierarchy in front of an audience of billions. That approach stands in stark contrast to other controversial and well-known billionaires like George Soros, and Bill Gates.While theoretically no different from Musk, men like Soros and Gates pursue their own personal aims in a much different manner then the flashy Tesla tycoon. Their preference is to shape governments, politicians, organizations, and policies behind closed door and out of sight from the public eye.This has long been the gold standard approach preferred by all the wealthy, unelected power brokers who want to exert influence.As a metaphor it was perfectly captured in the Wizard of Oz when Toto draws back a curtain to expose an old man pulling the levers of power. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” has been the rallying cry of powerful elites throughout the ages.But Musk isn’t afraid to talk about what’s behind the curtain, he also doesn’t appear to be afraid to talk about anything that has, until recently, been considered taboo.This was made abundantly clear when Musk conducted an interview with German politician Alice Weidel over her position on immigration and was monitored by 1984-esque Orwellian ‘thought police’. Or when he voiced blunt criticisms of Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the scandal of grooming gangs in the UK.But it’s like Winston Churchill said, “Everyone is in favour of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.”What Musk is doing isn’t an outrage, it’s a public service. You don’t have to like what he says, nor do you have to agree with it. But there is no denying that what he is saying on X is any different than what other billionaires are expressing during private meetings in the lavish rooms and halls of governments and major corporations. While I wish the world could be free from all such omnipotent influence, I think have to say that I much prefer to have billionaire’s broadcasting their ideas and random thoughts publicly for all to debate, and criticize, then not.
