boboosenApr 13, 2023
Isaac Ostlund

NPR's operating budget is $300 M, and 1%, or $3 M is funded by federal subsidies

The LA Times calculates the federal subsidies Musk's companies have received at $4.9 B.

Let's be generous and say Musk received those subsidies over a 10 year period, while NPR would have received ~$30 M in subsidies.

4.9 B / 30 M = Musk received 163x what NPR has from "the state."

Who is state funded then?

#elonmusk #npr #twitter

Apr 13, 2023 at 2:57pmWeb
Show thread... and beholdApr 13, 2023
@IsaacOstlund
While it's slightly more complicated, your point still stands.
From https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/national-public-radio-npr/
National Public Radio (NPR) - InfluenceWatch

National Public Radio (NPR) is a national nonprofit media outlet created and funded by the federal government. Though the organization claims to strive for objectivity, many media watchdogs consider NPR to have a left-of-center bias. NPR’s funding has been a point of controversy since its founding in 1970. NPR is officially a private company, but […]

InfluenceWatch
Show threadIsaac OstlundApr 13, 2023
@andbhold This is good information. It's still 4.9 billion to ~ 300millon, but I'm glad for the additional facts
Show thread... and beholdApr 13, 2023
@IsaacOstlund
I've just had a mid-sized argument online and let's just say facts are, ironically, not front and center in this debate about news quality.
Show threadElon Musk stickApr 13, 2023
@andbhold @IsaacOstlund are they ever?
Show thread... and beholdApr 13, 2023
@masterdon @IsaacOstlund
On here, yes. Back at the birdsite, not too often.
Show threadDavid Mitchell Jul 29, 2023

@IsaacOstlund @andbhold

In these ‘debates’ it’s interesting that not only are they wrong, but wrong in such a huge fundamental way that you can be off by a full order of magnitude and your point still holds.

Show threadthe_blackwell_ninja [EST]Apr 13, 2023
@IsaacOstlund Nobody takes more money in government handouts than a Billionaire.
Show threadIsaac OstlundApr 14, 2023
@the_blackwell_ninja Of course, how else would all the money trickle down to the rest of us?
Show threadDana das Grau 🧙🏻🧝‍♂️Jul 28, 2023
@the_blackwell_ninja @IsaacOstlund and billion dollar companies as well
Show threadHashJul 28, 2023
@the_blackwell_ninja @IsaacOstlund
And most politicians
Show threadLucius Annaeus SenecaApr 13, 2023
@IsaacOstlund
And the mission of #NPR is immeasurably more useful than that of ANY of #Musk's heavily subsidized companies, including #Twitter. It's very clear who produces the best ROI for the public. That's why I do donate to #NPR and enjoy their programs whilst I wouldn't give a dime to the disinformation-infested bird site.
Show threadPetterOfCatsApr 13, 2023
@IsaacOstlund not to mention a large share of the money Ol'Musky received was from a Saudi prince and the Qatar Investment Authority both of which are connected directly to their respective governments. So in essence, Twitter itself is a State Run social Media..
Show threadOldeHippi 🦋🎨🙏🌺Apr 13, 2023

@IsaacOstlund

Musk enjoys deceiving.

Show threadcestmoiApr 14, 2023
@IsaacOstlund welfare king
Show threadMidLifeBroadApr 14, 2023
@IsaacOstlund it’s time to defund the billionaires. #DEFUND #defundbillionaires #elon #elonmusk #Twitter #npr
Show thread🎓 Doc Freemo  🇳🇱Jul 29, 2023

@IsaacOstlund

How are we defining "Musk's companies" how much does he have to own before its "his"? Is one share enough, does he have to own it all?

Why are we comparing all companies where Musk has some shares to a single company (NPR)? How is that a useful comparison.

Even if you replaced Musk's name with mine, and im not particularly rich, this works out. I have a stofck portfolio of hundreds of companies I "own", I am sure they, in total, got far more aide than a single company like NPR....

Look I'm no fan of Musk, but lets stop with this sort of nonsense comparison please.

Show threadIsaac OstlundJul 29, 2023

@freemo Concerning "owner" I'd say majority shareholder works for me. And he is the majority shareholder of #Tesla

And I compare it to #NPR because of his direct criticism of it receiving government money

One company compared to one company.

Show thread🎓 Doc Freemo  🇳🇱Jul 29, 2023

@IsaacOstlund

Ok that seems more fair if we are saying Tesla not "Musk owned companies". Comparing Tesla to NPR seems far more reasonable and useful.

Show threadIsaac OstlundJul 29, 2023

@freemo this post is a bit old, so I forgot my exact language. Now I see your point and it's really good.

If I drop other companies that #Elon controls and look at only Tesla, it's received roughly 2.8 billion in government subsidies since 2007. Significantly less than the total listed above, but still more than NPR's roughly 450 million during the same period.

Show thread🎓 Doc Freemo  🇳🇱Jul 29, 2023
@IsaacOstlund Agreed, a much better argument and worth thinking about framed this way. Thank you.
Show threadMeroviusAug 16, 2023

@IsaacOstlund Not a fan of Musk or his companies, but this reads like a lack of numeracy.

You are comparing absolute $-amonuts, when the relative numbers - what percentage of their budget comes from subsidies - seems far more relevant.

If I ran a lemonade stand, with lemonade made from 100% state sponsored lemons, it would be more "state funded" than either NPR or Musk's companies, even if the absolute amount would be less than $100.

Show threadSean Boyer 🇵🇸 FREE PALESTINEAug 17, 2023
@IsaacOstlund
Exactly why it was so LOL when he flagged NPR and others.
Show thread2xfoAug 28, 2023
@IsaacOstlund
Every single one of Elon's enterprises are a series of government subsidies hiding in a business trenchcoat: Part 176