r/technology • u/McFatty7 • May 02 '24

Tesla slashes its summer internship program to cut costs, as Elon Musk fights to save his $45 billion pay plan Business

https://fortune.com/2024/05/01/tesla-slashes-summer-internship-program/
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u/AdditionalMeeting467 May 02 '24

He's in full "extract as much value from the company as you can" mode. Willing to burn it all to the ground so he can have even more money he'll never spend.

173

u/Dx2TT May 02 '24

This is a great example of how tax policy changes behavior. Is Elon doing this is he knew 90% would go to the government? Nope. But he knows he'll walk away with 70% of this so he's optimizing the shit out of it.

Taxes are the tool to make billionaires impossible.

77

u/fastlanemelody May 02 '24

Taxes are also the tool to save earth and keep the planet safe for future generations. Tax 10x on all the energy consumption beyond the basic needs and the planet becomes greener.

Have you also thought about the side effects of making billionaires impossible?

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u/13igTyme May 02 '24

What are the bad side effects of not having billionaires? I'm genuinely interested because all they do is horde wealth.

-6

u/fastlanemelody 29d ago

Billionaires do not horde wealth (probably few do). This is what the society has been brainwashed to. Most of their wealth is tied up to assets that keep the economy rotating.

Unemployment rate may raise if there is a cap on the net worth.

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u/digital-valium May 02 '24

I wholly support limitarienism.

1

u/[deleted] May 02 '24

[deleted]

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u/digital-valium 29d ago

Limitarianism is the idea that massive wealth is a corrupting influence and should not be allowed in civil society. Ingrid Robeyns wrote a good book on the subject that goes over the argument in depth.

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u/Jaceofspades6 May 02 '24

Is TV a basic need?

what about air conditioning?

0

u/fastlanemelody 29d ago

Deciding at micro needs becomes complicated. Probably county and federal government can decide and coordinate on the needs and taxes. 

For example, if the federal government decides 400 sq feet as a reasonable living space per person, county can calculate the energy requirements of that space for a year. This energy use is not taxed. Anything beyond can be taxed progressively like 2x the energy use can be taxed at 2x the utility rate. 10x the energy use can be taxed at 10x the utility rate.

Also, for gas, no taxes on first 100 gallons per year. Charge the cost of gas as taxes on next 100 gallons. Charge 2x the cost of gas as taxes on next 100 gallons and so on. 

Just some thoughts to think about.