Elon Musk calls Sen. Elizabeth Warren "Senator Karen" for calling out his not paying taxes

[tenderfoot]

Link to tweet

[discocrisco01]

1. He is such a goon

[Yoyoyo77]

23. Remember this when you start college, kids.

Too much LSD while reading Ayn Rand can be a terrible thing!

[GoCubsGo]

2. Can we deport this tax-evading asshole, already?

Enough of him and his juvenile bullshit.

[Celerity]

46. He is a US citizen since 2002, so deportation is not going to happen

[ColinC]

3. I always wonder how a man who is so smart

Can be so stupid

[Caliman73]

58. "Stupidity is not an intellectual deficit, but a moral one" - Bonheoffer

Musk is intellectually there, but morally bankrupt.

[rockfordfile]

4. Elon musk might be a racist.

[tenderfoot]

6. There's a history with Tesla, not sure about him personally but he sure is a petulant little TWAT

Tesla must pay $137 million to a Black employee who sued for racial discrimination

A federal jury in San Francisco has ordered Tesla to pay a former Black contractor $137 million over claims that he was subjected to racial discrimination at work.

Owen Diaz, who worked as a contract elevator operator at Tesla's factory in Fremont, Calif., from 2015 to 2016, said in his lawsuit that he and others were called the N-word by Tesla employees, that he was told to "go back to Africa" and that employees drew racist and derogatory pictures that were left around the factory.

The suit said Diaz was excited to go to work for Tesla, but that instead of a "modern workplace," he found a "scene straight from the Jim Crow era."

Diaz says nothing was done to stop it

Diaz said that he complained about the discriminatory treatment to Tesla and the contracting companies Citistaff and nextSource, but that nothing was ever done to stop it.

"I'm gratified that the jury saw the truth and that they sent a message to Tesla to clean up its workplace," Larry Organ, one of Diaz's attorneys, told NPR.

The jury award included $130 million in punitive damages and $6.9 million in emotional damages, according to the verdict. Organ said he believed it was the largest award in a racial harassment case involving a single plaintiff in U.S. history.

"Owen and I both hope that this sends a message to corporate America to look at your workplace and, if there are problems there, take proactive measures to protect employees against racist conduct," Organ added. "It is happening, and we need to do something about it."

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/05/1043336212/tesla-racial-discrimination-lawsuit

[Diamond_Dog]

5. F him

[Blecht]

7. Fucking scumbag

I can't believe anybody falls for his grifting.

[BootinUp]

8. Is that the best he's got?

Maybe he was high or otherwise intoxicated when that worthless thought came out.

[Carlitos Brigante]

9. Where's Inigo Montoya when you need him? nt

[oasis]

10. The more I hear about Musk, the more I dislike him.

[Takket]

11. Your Time Person of the Year, ladies and gentlemen....

[dchill]

18. Time and Time again.

[C_U_L8R]

12. What a jackass.

I once wondered that he might actually be a cool person... but what a self-absorbed buffoon. I'd never wish to be a customer of his companies or products. His brand is shit.

[elias7]

13. Ok dude, you have no idea what a Karen is, do you?

[dchill]

19. The female equivalent of an "Elon."

Just a guess.

[iemanja]

14. You know, this reminds me of why I hate the term "Karen."

Musk is being a sexist asshole here, and he's taken advantage of a popular meme to do so. What bothers me about the Karen label is that it is always used against women, despite the fact that men can also be racist shit bags. There is no corresponding label for men.

Meanwhile, the richest man in the world whines about paying his taxes, and Warren is the so-called Karen.

[tenderfoot]

16. I was never a fan of the "karen" trend either

I wish it would die... sooner rather than later.

[Jedi Guy]

20. "There is no corresponding label for men." Not so!

There is a term for men who behave in a Karenish fashion. The term is "Ken." I'll grant you that it doesn't get thrown around nearly as often as Karen does, though.

[iemanja]

21. It almost never gets around

and the same can't be said of the behavior. They are not equal terms.
What the effect of the Karen meme has been is to fail to call out racist behavior when it is done by men. There is an incentive to call out women because labeling someone Karen is cute on social media. Meanwhile, the white supremacist male assholes are ignored.

[kcr]

33. Not once have I heard a man referred to as a "Ken"

Vs the million and one times I've heard a woman called a "Karen." There are a million and one different names that people claim are the male equivalent.

[AncientAndy]

44. Most people just call them "Male Karens"

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/rgeiv5/male_karen_loses_it_after_he_thought_she_cut_at_a/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/ragbgy/hilarious_male_karen_freaks_out_on_kids_for/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/rcjs03/antivaxxers_male_karens_freakout_at_mall_security/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/r306et/male_karen_confronts_man_for_doing_his_job/

[LizBeth]

53. Exactly which I was trying to point out at the beginning of all this and roundly scolded and

dismissed, probably as another Karen.

[Polybius]

55. Musk was even more harsh toward Bernie

He responded by saying something like "I forgot you were still alive."

[Polybius]

59. Probably because it's rarer

As someone who worked in retail for years, almost all of the biggest complainers for trivial things were older white women. One time one lady saw me in the corner talking to a co-worker, and went to the manager and said "I'm looking for the right size, and your employees are talking to each other in the corner!" Mind you that she didn't come over to ask for help, which we would have gladly assisted. Luckily my manager was good. Trying to get employees in trouble should always be the last option.

As pointed out earlier, the term "Karen" mostly means a complainer who goes to the manager for every little problem. It can be used for a racist calling the cops on a black person for a stupid reason, but that fits under the broader definition.

[LizBeth]

70. Go figure my greatest issue was white male 40-60 physically threatening and intimidating an old

woman trying to serve them.

What your "karen" term has done is that any older woman that has a thing to say is dismissed as simply a complainer while the rest of demographics can go about freely being confrontational.

I talk about health and because I have questions I am deemed a Karen. I can't get service at Toyota so I am deemed a Karen and dismissed. Not really relevant, right? Just an old woman complaining. I question IRS demanding 4k from me and I become a Karen.

Lovely all the ways we use it to shut women up.

[Polybius]

72. You're not a Karen at all

A Karen gets employees in trouble for stupid reasons by telling the manager on them.

[LizBeth]

73. Because you are so narrowly defining what a Karen is does not mean others do the same.

Hence, Musk comment to Warren. That is the whole point of my argument with the Karen thing. Which, btw, makes me a Karen per some. How dare I have a voice. And I dare to use that voice.

I have watched the Karren videos and recently saw three different ones putting up a Karen and it was not a Karen. Was a woman with a legitimate complaint clearly and calmly saying she was not going to be overcharged. Yet there was the video defining her as a Karen for the world to watch. Now enough people called bullshit but that is a clue in for the systematic innate sexism in our society that is simply reinforced with the Karen crap.

[Polybius]

74. I'm sorry to hear that

Like I said, my definition is different, as I only use it as previously stated. All of those people who use the term on any woman complaining are sexist and ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[LizBeth]

75. There is a lot of things directed toward women/girls people should be ashamed about.

And here we sit.

[boston bean]

15. He is a creep.

[XRubicon]

17. Elon loves the sweet NASA money

But he is a rugged individualist don't you know...

[Hoyt]

22. Sen Warren needs to stay up-to-date regarding Musk taxes.

Musk paid $455 M between 2014 and 2018

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/08/bezos-musk-buffett-bloomberg-icahn-and-soros-pay-little-in-taxes.html


Elon Musk faces a $15 billion tax bill, which is likely the real reason he’s selling stock

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/07/elon-musk-faces-a-15-billion-tax-bill-which-is-likely-the-real-reason-hes-selling-stock.html

Not enough, but not zero either.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. Ahem

Musk, who had an actual taxable income of $1.52 billion during the five-year period, paid no federal income taxes in 2018, according to ProPublica.

Stop covering for the fucking oligarchs.

[betsuni]

28. Oligarchs. You're thinking of Russia?

What political influence does Musk have (that's not a fantasy or conspiracy theory)?

[ck4829]

37. Well, they're not getting charged with tax evasion and a litany of other crimes

You need some power for that to happen.

They're oligarchs.

[wellst0nev0ter]

39. You're really defending Elon Musk?

Am I reading this right? We're going to defend billionaires who make fun of Democrats on Democratic fucking Underground?

[betsuni]

41. LOL Am I reading this right? Answer the question.

[wellst0nev0ter]

42. Yep, we should stop calling Musk a Russian oligarch

Do I have it right?

[betsuni]

43. He's American. Do I have it right? This is the U.S.

Millionaires and billionaires are evil until one becomes a millionaire, then only billionaires are bad.

[wellst0nev0ter]

45. Yes, we are defending billionaires on DU

Because they need all the help they can get, those poor things.

[betsuni]

47. Nobody is.

[wellst0nev0ter]

48. We can read perfectly fine

Denying it won't help.

[Hoyt]

50. Well, unless you wanna pay more in taxes, we need more billionaires. Just tax them accordingly.

[wellst0nev0ter]

51. Orr, hear me out, the wealth could be spread out evenly

And you can tax all of us accordingly!

[CrackityJones75]

62. Never in my wildest fucking dreams...

Never in my wildest fucking dreams did I imaging reading on DU that we need more billionaires.


Fucking Wow!

[Hoyt]

67. Well, Crackity, if you want healthcare, education, enhanced Social Security, etc., somebody has to

pay for it.

Who do you want to tax, wealthy people or some guy just getting by?

I've worked for small businesses and large. I got paid better and had better benefits working for the big guys, not to mention security.

[CrackityJones75]

69. Rrrrrright. The ONLY way is have billionaires.

[CrackityJones75]

61. Bwahahahahaha REALLY?

Ok.

[Caliman73]

65. Actually quite a bit.

Not as an individual per se, but definitely as a class of person. The people at the top of the wealth and income scale have a great deal more influence on policy, economic, and social trends than we would like to admit.

Let me ask you, and answer honestly. Who is more likely to be able to set up a meeting with President Biden, you? me? or Elon Musk?


Sure, we are not Russia, where there is an almost gangster like system where the richest people and Putin dictate policy, but we are not the land of one person one vote that we would like to believe.

Here are a few articles on the concentration of wealth. There was a study that indicated that the top 10% of wealth holders had an 80% or more chance of their preferred policies being enacted, while the rest of the 90% had 30% or less of a chance.

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2016-02-09/the-costs-of-inequality-the-rich-and-the-rest

https://whorulesamerica.ucsc.edu/power/wealth.html

https://time.com/5793956/supreme-court-loves-rich/

[Beaverhausen]

56. Elon Musk got millions in tax breaks to put a plant in Austin.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/07/elon-musk-got-millions-tax-breaks-put-plant-austin-heres-why-laws-dont-stop-these-secret-deals/

August 7, 2020

During a July earnings call, Elon Musk announced his intention to build a Tesla manufacturing facility outside Austin. There, Travis County offered the automobile company 10 years of tax abatements worth almost $14 million. The local school district is offering tax breaks worth $50 million, and the state will most likely add enough incentives to top $100 million in total. Although Tesla was rumored to be considering the Austin area, the deal was kept secret until this announcement through nondisclosure agreements, exceptions to public records laws, and code names.

Secret deals to try to attract businesses are common — and rouse a lot of political disagreement. Some people believe that higher transparency requirements — enforced openness about deals underway — might make officials more accountable to taxpayers. However, our research suggests that existing transparency requirements aren’t changing the behavior of public officials very much. Indeed, many officials may be simply ignoring them.

[Hoyt]

60. Austin must think it is worth it. I wouldn't move to Texas, but I suspect it will be good for state.

More educated people is better than less.

[Beaverhausen]

57. Elon Musk has a $2.5 billion reason to move to Texas: avoiding California capital gains tax

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-did-elon-musk-move-texas-wealth-tax-capital-gains-2021-11

Elon Musk has made no secret of his desire to get out of California.

"Will own no house," he tweeted on May 1, 2020, before embarking on a selling spree to rid himself of several mansions in the Golden State. His destination: a $50,000 pre-fab tiny home in Texas. Earlier this year, he also moved his company Tesla from the west coast to the Lone Star state.

He has even lent money to at least five buyers who used the funds to purchase his properties in the state from him, according to property records viewed by Bloomberg.

One likely reason for the urgency is a looming tax liability following the sale of 10% of his Tesla shares – a move that he appeared to put to a vote on Twitter, but in reality had previously committed to in an SEC filing.

[rockfordfile]

64. He's a pos that doesn't want to pay his taxes. While living in our country.

[Coventina]

24. Uh-oh, the Musk Fanbois here will get their tails in knots!!!

[CrackityJones75]

63. Yep

[mvd]

26. The arrogance of many rich people, including him

[Tribetime]

27. He sold his soul to greed you can't take it with you

He who is first now will be last and who is last shall be first

[AngryOldDem]

29. And this, friends, is why Person of the Year isn't necessarily an honor.

Sometimes the asshattery is just so astounding, it can’t be ignored.

Warren nailed it. So did Frederick Joseph. The man IS a freeloader who most likely buys his friends.

[Dorian Gray]

30. "micro"dosing douchebag

I really despise this petulant little shitbird.

There has never been a better candidate for a pie in the face, ever.

[smirkymonkey]

31. God, I hate that little fucking wanker.

He is such a creep. There was a point where I was able to tolerate him, but now I just want to see him get smacked down hard and swift.

[eShirl]

32. At least he didn't call her a pedophile like he did to those cave diving heroes.

he's such a little snot

[betsuni]

34. Sexism directed at Warren proves the sexism directed at Hillary.

So many "progressives" said in 2016: Oh, we'd vote for a woman, just not THAT woman. Then when Warren ran, no. She was called a school marm, women are angry moms,

[TheFarseer]

35. He's completely misusing that

He’s one of the dumbest smart people in the world. He’s going to “jump the shark” soon at this rate.

[HAB911]

36. Musk needs an intervention

he is digging a hole he may not be able to get out of

[ck4829]

38. So, this tool wants to see class warfare go the other way, doesn't he?

[yardwork]

40. Ok, I'm intrigued by what happened when Musk was a kid.

His friend's mother "just randomly yelled" at him "for no reason?" I wonder what really happened.

[The Revolution]

49. The more Musk talks

The less I like him. And it honestly affects how I view his companies too. I'm starting to see Tesla cars the same way I see those big trucks that belch black smoke. And despite being a huge proponent of space exploration, I really don't care about SpaceX.

[LizBeth]

52. Karen is used as just another way of dismissing a woman if she talks. I get what was intended.

But with any marginalized group there will be consequences. So Warren, a woman speaks. And is relegated to the joyfully funny finger pointing of a mere Karen. The incel group that started this Karen shit should feel so warm and fuzzy.

[Polybius]

54. "the term Karen, which is used to call out racist white women"

That's one of the uses for Karen, but not the only one. If someone complains to the manager because her server forgot the lemon for her Diet Coke, that would be the definition of a Karen. So basically it's used when someone complains to a manager for something that's not that big of a deal.

Note: This is not a defense of Musk at all. He shouldn't be calling her Sen. Karen. His taxes need to go up!

[LizBeth]

71. It started on some incel site going after an X gf and a whole lots of guys

getting a giggle. That is where it started.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

66. Need some of this do you Musk?

[BSdetect]

68. How exactly did Elon Musk not pay his taxes?

Seems he did sell shares and has paid a lot of tax as a result.

If people think he should pay tax on "unrealized gains" that opens a can of worms. An utterly stupid idea.

Did I miss something?