Elon Musk has so much money that if he went to a restaurant and left anything but a million dollar tip he should hang in head in embarrassment. Most of us leave tips that are at least noticeable – why not him? At $250 billion (Or around there) Musk has more money than many mid-size nations. Alabama’s total budget in 2022 was $37 billion – less than 20% of Musk’s total wealth. He has a lot of money. Giving away a million dollars a day to various people won’t even cover the interest – if and when he does so he won’t notice. But Musk intends to induce certain people to sign his petition in order to get a shot at that million dollar lottery. The conditions as to “which” certain people qualify makes the offer illegal.
Elon has announced that he actually will give the set amount to a random person who signs the “Protect the First Amendment and Right to Bear Arms” petition, implying that this would be like a lottery. He won’t be giving the money to everyone who signs his petition – they have to meet the fine print. A soon to be petitioner must be a registered voter and – you knew this was coming, must live in one of the six swing states. It was bad enough that these are the people lucky enough pick the next president, now they’re lucky enough to get paid for it. Don’t worry, though, it’s illegal.
But now worry because neither Elon Musk nor anyone following Donald Trump likely cares whether it is legal. There is also the fact that there will probably never be proof that the money was paid. You would think that it’s legal to talk about the offer without actually doing it – but maybe not. As it stands, this is a criminal gambit. According to Mediaite, election law professor Rick Hasen has no doubts about this:
The professor cited 52 U.S.C. 10307(c), which says that anyone who “pay[s] or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote” is breaking the law… a bribe [is] “anything having monetary value, including cash, liquor, lottery chances, and welfare benefits such as food stamps.” The manual added, “For an offer or a payment to violate Section 10307(c), it must have been intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot.”
So it would probably be legal for Musk to pay one million dollars a day to someone who simply signed his petition. Why Musk even has a petition to support free speech and expensive guns is something to really worry about when you have time to worry about anything but the election. Additionally, there is the worry that this million dollars goes exclusively to a Trump supporter because nowadays Musk only talks to Trump supporters. You would otherwise not know. Hence the reward is for an act necessary to cast a ballot and necessarily to someone who will vote for Donald Trump. Hence Hasen says this:
“Though maybe some of the other things Musk was doing were of murky legality, this one is clearly illegal,”
Clearly. Okay. Now hope that it matters. Maybe Musk has only earned himself a fine. That would be okay – if fined $20 billion to go to college tuition or winter heat – in an amount that he might notice.
It is somewhat surprising that the Trump campaign hasn’t demanded 50% of such a windfall – maybe 66%. Or maybe they have, perhaps they intend to do so. We don’t know and probably never will. Just because the lottery has been announced doesn’t mean it will actually happen. Of course, it is illegal even if it never happens.
The laws says it is illegal to make an “offer” that is “intended to induce” – and so that should take care of that. Payment or not, Musk broke the law by making the announcement. But I am happy to give him a tip. Retract the offer and give the money away to someone who desperately needs it. It is perfectly legal, and I badly need it.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
The love of money is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL! Given our cultural worship of material wealth and give unearned respect to those with it…it’s no surprise we are where we are.
As the Boss sang: all men want to be rich…rich man wants to be king…and the king ain’t satisfied until he rules everything. The only feedback is not ALL men…some of us don’t measure our wealth by our bank account. Funny how no one wants to review their bank account on the day of their death.
I hate money, but the plain truth is that you have to have a certain amount to buy groceries, pay bills etc… Muskrat is an excellent example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, who stumbled into money by accident.
Like most of the 1% he inherited a bundle. He buys companies where actual.engineers and tech folks do the work, then.makes himself the face of the brand, not unlike the actor who portrays the Most Interesting Man in the World. He doesn’t actually do.anything useful.
OT:
For 2 weeks, I have been diligently trying to prove/disprove the truth of a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. There is nothing on the Garden’s site. Supposed ticket sites return “500 ERROR” messages. Yet, some MSM sources (The Guardian 2 days ago) are still posting articles about the “upcoming Nazi-style event!” Finally, today I ordered 2 tickets (fist come, first served) on Trump’s official website. I received the following message on the site and by text:
“Thank you for confirming your RSVP!
You will receive more information before the event. 🗓 Add to calendar”
I still don’t believe it’s happening, but I’m sure I’m gonna get a shitload of emails and texts begging for money!! Y’all are welcome. I took this bullet for you!! 🤣🤣
I read somewhere it’s not a rally but a fund raiser. Not sure the entry price. Can’t remember where I read it either…but it is at Madison square garden from what I read. FWIW.
and thank you for taking the hit for us. Maybe I’ll get my maga mother in Florida to sign muskrat’s petition. Except I don’t want her to go to jail. But she could use the money.
Damn, Florida doesn’t count! Just read the embedded article!
I saw that, Carol, and it was out there as invitation only…also at MSG on the 27th. The amounts for attendance ranged from $5K to just under $1M! Since you are not gonna mix invitees with a bunch of first come noisy MAGAts, they would have to be at one of the smaller venues at the Garden at the same time! All of it stinks like Trump’s Depends. I suspect the whole thing is a scam!! 🤔
If he’s soliciting to buy votes it’s illegal. Doesn’t matter whether the money is paid or not.
musk found his first winner this morning, a die hard Elon & Tesla & SpaceX fan
Elon Musk is data harvesting to start backing politicians whether or not Trump gets elected. Musk will be looking to financially groom the next president candidate.
Elon Mucus has a vision of oligarchy where money is all that counts.
Good one Jason Miciak