How the U.S. government came to rely on the tech billionaire—and is now struggling to rein him in.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The whole point is that there shouldn’t be an absence. The absence is there because of the private corporations. This is another insidious tendril of capitalism.

      • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        I agree wholeheartedly. Public money is being funneled into the MIC, of which SpaceX is now an integral part. If that same money or even a significant fraction had been instead alotted to NASA since the moon landings, we’d have bases on Titan already.

        However, I want to see us touch the stars. And right now, it’s pretty much only SpaceX that has the drive and capital to get there.

    • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      That’s an odd question because government programs aren’t and shouldn’t be in areas to make a profit, aka act like a private company. They need to act where private sector can’t, won’t, or can’t do it well and when there is an important stake. Eg roads, schools, healthcare, police, firefighters, etc. This is why people are telling you it’s unlikely SpaceX would be around without government contracts and funding.