• takeda@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Are you saying there is a law that explicitly states to give Elon Musk billions on subsidies or are you just giving a bad faith argument for the effort of Western government trying to cut dependence from petrostates?

    • FlexibleToast@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      They have specifically given at least one of his companies a lot in subsidies. SpaceX lives off the government teet.

      Edit: People in this thread don’t seem to realize that specifically over paying for something is itself a subsidy. SpaceX has been overcharging for DoD contracts, missing deadlines, and running cost overages for years now. They’ve also been given contracts where other competitors weren’t even considered.

      • diablexical@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        SpaceX got key govt contracts early on and is the most cost competitive launcher. The comercial space program paid off tremendously for the US.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          the most cost competitive launcher

          We defunded the NASA launch program and gave it to a bunch of defense sector flakes who had to reinvent what NASA had already accomplished while still kicking back cash to their investors.

          These aren’t competitive bids. They’re kickbacks that occasionally get us a little space technology along the way.

          • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            3 months ago

            We defunded the NASA launch program and gave it to a bunch of defense sector flakes who had to reinvent what NASA had already accomplished while still kicking back cash to their investors.

            Because everything NASA ever launched was crazy expensive, albeit they had some very cool projects

      • takeda@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Subsidies for EVs are one thing, government contracts to deliver satellites and astronauts to space is another (essentially government just using and paying for the service)

      • Diplomjodler@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        So if you go to the supermarket and buy a carton of milk, you’re subsidizing the supermarket?