The war on Tesla isn’t about Elon Musk — it’s hurting 70,000+ American workers building the most American-made car on the road. Political outrage shouldn’t come at the cost of working families. We’re better than this. 🇺🇸
What struck me as much as the content was the tone of your comments. This issue clearly has struck a nerve with you. Most people, including myself, would agree that vandalism is counterproductive. But the notion that people should separate Elon Musk from the Tesla brand because of the potential consequences to the people who choose to work for his company is unlikely to be persuasive in my opinion. To be honest, it came off as a bit condescending. Elon Musk has no one to blame but himself for the damage to the Tesla brand. The impact on Tesla workers is regrettable but pales in comparison to the damage being done to millions of people in this country by an arrogant billionaire whose actions make it crystal clear that he does not care at all about the working class in this country.
Alan, first off—I want to apologize if my article came off as condescending. That genuinely wasn’t my intent. I respect your perspective, and I appreciate you engaging in good faith on a topic that clearly matters.
I hear your point about not being persuaded to spare Tesla. That’s fair. But it’s actually what led me to a bit of a thought experiment: if public backlash were to fully take down Tesla—if the stock goes to zero and the company collapses—who really gets hurt?
It’s not Musk, at least not in the most meaningful way. He owns about 13% of the company and would lose billions on paper—but he has SpaceX, xAI, and plenty of other ventures. He’ll be fine.
But here’s who doesn’t:
• Investors: Over $580B in market value gone.
• Workers: Around $10B in lost salaries annually.
• Everyday people: Many hold Tesla through retirement accounts, pension funds, or ETFs.
• The public: Assuming a 15% effective tax on salaries and 20% on capital gains, that’s $1.5B+ per year in income tax and potentially over $100B in lost capital gains tax revenue—money that would’ve funded public services.
That’s not even counting the secondary impact on suppliers, local economies, and the broader clean tech ecosystem.
So yeah, Musk has absolutely invited criticism. But burning down the brand to punish him would hurt a lot of people who had nothing to do with his behavior. The phrase “cut off your nose to spite your face” feels like it applies here.
Again, I appreciate your take—and I’m glad we can have this kind of conversation with mutual respect, even if we see it differently.
Thanks for the reply. Fostering an open respectful, dialogue with those who disagree is vital to finding some common ground. I've watched from the sidelines as you created and nurtured Instrument and there is no doubt in my mind that your heart is in the right place re your desire to be part of the solution to the serious challenges wee face as a nation, and specifically in Portland. In a capitalist economy, companies come and go. Crreative destruction is a feature, not a bug. Tesla wouldn't be the first , or last company that failed as a result of poor management decisions. Wash Mutual was the largest S&L in the US. Countryside Realty the whale in that industry. Both went bankrupt, and life went on. Why hasn't the brilliant innovator fulfilled his promise to make affordable EV that might actually make a difference. Boycotting a companies products is one of the only effective ways for the average person to send a message of disapproval. If it hurts the bottom line, maybe other Ceos with the resources and political connections to meddle in peoples lives in such a destructive manner will think twice. This is about much more than Tesla investors, or workers. People are really pissed off and scared about the direction our country is headed. And they have every right to express their anger through exercising their 1st amendment rights. It's as American as apple pie. Who knows what would have happened without the Boston Tea Party. If Tesla were to go belly up tomorrow, other co would fill the void. It's already happening. China is cranking out low cost EV while Tesla sales are plummeting. There were 7 recalls of Cybertrucks in 2024. And the hits keep coming. With Tesla, the brand damage is global, and if anything , appears to be picking up steam.
I had some meaningful — and at times difficult — conversations today about my article. Folks shared real frustration and fear about Elon Musk’s role in the federal government and the impact DOGE cuts are having on their families. I hear them. I feel them. And I agree: the way these cuts have been rolled out lacks basic respect and dignity. That’s not okay.
But what I was trying to say is this: the response we’re seeing — destroying cars, vandalizing dealerships — doesn’t hurt Musk. It hurts the 70,000 Americans who work at Tesla. It won’t stop the cuts. It may actually justify them. It gives fuel to those who want to frame this outrage as chaos rather than consequence. And it risks validating the very policies people are fighting against. I’m not asking anyone to ignore their anger — I’m asking us to rise above the impulse to retaliate, and instead protect the working people who are once again caught in the middle. We can push back without burning down the house we’re trying to save.
You still may not agree with me — and that’s okay. I just wanted to say that I heard you today.
Also, I have to respectfully disagree. The outrage that you are seeing doesn't spark from Elon's wealth or his hot takes on social media. It is is role in destroying - you guessed it - American jobs, a lot of what looks like a haphazard approach. At last count, more than 40,000 people have been laid off by DOGE since January 1, 2025. It hits real people; hard-working Americans, as you say.
While everyone may not know someone specifically that works for Tesla, everyone knows someone impacted by the slashing of DOGE. My mom is a retired government worker. Impacted and worrying daily about her Social Security. My dad is a Veteran living at Loch Raven in Baltimore. We are worried daily if his necessary care changes in any way, because it's life-saving.
I don't agree with burning people's cars. I do, however, understand the level of vitriol that can rise to this level when what looks like a billionaire making war on hard working Americans.
Elliott, your concerns about Social Security and veterans’ benefits are absolutely valid, and I share them. While I do believe we need to address our national budget deficit, the approach DOGE has taken so far has left far too many people without dignity, clarity, or answers — and that’s not acceptable.
More than anything, thank you for disagreeing with me in a way that was thoughtful and constructive. If more of us engaged with this kind of respect and openness, I truly believe we could make meaningful progress across our differences and move America forward, together.
What struck me as much as the content was the tone of your comments. This issue clearly has struck a nerve with you. Most people, including myself, would agree that vandalism is counterproductive. But the notion that people should separate Elon Musk from the Tesla brand because of the potential consequences to the people who choose to work for his company is unlikely to be persuasive in my opinion. To be honest, it came off as a bit condescending. Elon Musk has no one to blame but himself for the damage to the Tesla brand. The impact on Tesla workers is regrettable but pales in comparison to the damage being done to millions of people in this country by an arrogant billionaire whose actions make it crystal clear that he does not care at all about the working class in this country.
Alan, first off—I want to apologize if my article came off as condescending. That genuinely wasn’t my intent. I respect your perspective, and I appreciate you engaging in good faith on a topic that clearly matters.
I hear your point about not being persuaded to spare Tesla. That’s fair. But it’s actually what led me to a bit of a thought experiment: if public backlash were to fully take down Tesla—if the stock goes to zero and the company collapses—who really gets hurt?
It’s not Musk, at least not in the most meaningful way. He owns about 13% of the company and would lose billions on paper—but he has SpaceX, xAI, and plenty of other ventures. He’ll be fine.
But here’s who doesn’t:
• Investors: Over $580B in market value gone.
• Workers: Around $10B in lost salaries annually.
• Everyday people: Many hold Tesla through retirement accounts, pension funds, or ETFs.
• The public: Assuming a 15% effective tax on salaries and 20% on capital gains, that’s $1.5B+ per year in income tax and potentially over $100B in lost capital gains tax revenue—money that would’ve funded public services.
That’s not even counting the secondary impact on suppliers, local economies, and the broader clean tech ecosystem.
So yeah, Musk has absolutely invited criticism. But burning down the brand to punish him would hurt a lot of people who had nothing to do with his behavior. The phrase “cut off your nose to spite your face” feels like it applies here.
Again, I appreciate your take—and I’m glad we can have this kind of conversation with mutual respect, even if we see it differently.
Thanks for the reply. Fostering an open respectful, dialogue with those who disagree is vital to finding some common ground. I've watched from the sidelines as you created and nurtured Instrument and there is no doubt in my mind that your heart is in the right place re your desire to be part of the solution to the serious challenges wee face as a nation, and specifically in Portland. In a capitalist economy, companies come and go. Crreative destruction is a feature, not a bug. Tesla wouldn't be the first , or last company that failed as a result of poor management decisions. Wash Mutual was the largest S&L in the US. Countryside Realty the whale in that industry. Both went bankrupt, and life went on. Why hasn't the brilliant innovator fulfilled his promise to make affordable EV that might actually make a difference. Boycotting a companies products is one of the only effective ways for the average person to send a message of disapproval. If it hurts the bottom line, maybe other Ceos with the resources and political connections to meddle in peoples lives in such a destructive manner will think twice. This is about much more than Tesla investors, or workers. People are really pissed off and scared about the direction our country is headed. And they have every right to express their anger through exercising their 1st amendment rights. It's as American as apple pie. Who knows what would have happened without the Boston Tea Party. If Tesla were to go belly up tomorrow, other co would fill the void. It's already happening. China is cranking out low cost EV while Tesla sales are plummeting. There were 7 recalls of Cybertrucks in 2024. And the hits keep coming. With Tesla, the brand damage is global, and if anything , appears to be picking up steam.
I had some meaningful — and at times difficult — conversations today about my article. Folks shared real frustration and fear about Elon Musk’s role in the federal government and the impact DOGE cuts are having on their families. I hear them. I feel them. And I agree: the way these cuts have been rolled out lacks basic respect and dignity. That’s not okay.
But what I was trying to say is this: the response we’re seeing — destroying cars, vandalizing dealerships — doesn’t hurt Musk. It hurts the 70,000 Americans who work at Tesla. It won’t stop the cuts. It may actually justify them. It gives fuel to those who want to frame this outrage as chaos rather than consequence. And it risks validating the very policies people are fighting against. I’m not asking anyone to ignore their anger — I’m asking us to rise above the impulse to retaliate, and instead protect the working people who are once again caught in the middle. We can push back without burning down the house we’re trying to save.
You still may not agree with me — and that’s okay. I just wanted to say that I heard you today.
Justin, well stated.
Also, I have to respectfully disagree. The outrage that you are seeing doesn't spark from Elon's wealth or his hot takes on social media. It is is role in destroying - you guessed it - American jobs, a lot of what looks like a haphazard approach. At last count, more than 40,000 people have been laid off by DOGE since January 1, 2025. It hits real people; hard-working Americans, as you say.
While everyone may not know someone specifically that works for Tesla, everyone knows someone impacted by the slashing of DOGE. My mom is a retired government worker. Impacted and worrying daily about her Social Security. My dad is a Veteran living at Loch Raven in Baltimore. We are worried daily if his necessary care changes in any way, because it's life-saving.
I don't agree with burning people's cars. I do, however, understand the level of vitriol that can rise to this level when what looks like a billionaire making war on hard working Americans.
I think we can agree on. that.
Elliott, your concerns about Social Security and veterans’ benefits are absolutely valid, and I share them. While I do believe we need to address our national budget deficit, the approach DOGE has taken so far has left far too many people without dignity, clarity, or answers — and that’s not acceptable.
More than anything, thank you for disagreeing with me in a way that was thoughtful and constructive. If more of us engaged with this kind of respect and openness, I truly believe we could make meaningful progress across our differences and move America forward, together.
Well stated, Justin.