Elon Musk's Push to Shrink Government and His Controversial Views on Empathy
Americans remain largely unaware of the full extent of Elon Musk’s plans with DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), a new initiative aimed at drastically reducing government size and cutting over $1 trillion in spending. However, some insight into Musk’s motivations is emerging, primarily driven by what he calls "civilizational suicidal empathy."
In a three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, released on February 28, Musk expressed his belief in a conspiracy theory that Democrats are working to flood the United States with undocumented immigrants, thereby securing permanent political control. Musk argued that if Democrats had four more years, they would legalize enough immigrants in swing states to transform them into reliably blue states, tipping the balance of power in favor of the Democratic Party.
This theory, which echoes the debunked "replacement theory," lacks substantial evidence, especially considering that noncitizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections and there is no clear path to citizenship for those who enter the country illegally. Despite these contradictions, the conversation revealed more about Musk's deeper concerns regarding government size and his views on empathy.
Musk linked his desire to reduce government size to his broader philosophy, which challenges the value of empathy when it comes to societal costs. He criticized California’s decision to extend medical insurance to undocumented individuals through its Medi-Cal program, calling it an example of "civilizational suicidal empathy." Musk borrowed this term from Canadian scholar Gad Saad, who has appeared on Rogan's podcast multiple times.
While Musk acknowledged that empathy is important and that people should care about one another, he believes that excessive empathy is damaging to society. He suggested that Western civilization's fundamental weakness lies in the overuse of empathy, which he described as an "exploit" of the system, one that undermines the collective good. In his view, empathy has been "weaponized" and is being used to exploit Western civilization's values.
Musk’s attitude toward government spending and social safety nets, such as Social Security, aligns with this philosophy. While former President Donald Trump claimed that cuts would avoid touching essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Musk labeled Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.” This sentiment reflects his broader view that societal obligations, such as welfare programs, are unsustainable in the long term.
Musk’s approach to leadership, particularly at his companies like Tesla and SpaceX, also underscores his lack of empathy for individuals. In Walter Isaacson’s biography, which covers Musk's purchase of Twitter, the billionaire is portrayed as someone willing to fire employees swiftly, including those working in production lines at Tesla and SpaceX. His focus on saving humanity – through electric cars at Tesla, space exploration at SpaceX, and promoting free speech at Twitter – often comes at the expense of the individuals around him.
Isaacson noted in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Musk appears to have more empathy for humanity as a whole than for the people he works with on a daily basis. Musk has maintained a self-image as a risk-taking hero, one who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good. His fear of being killed in his mission to save humanity was a repeated theme in his conversation with Rogan.
Now, Musk seems to view his mission as saving the U.S. government, aiming to cut billions in spending, even if it comes at the cost of many Americans' livelihoods. Whether this will involve job losses or reductions in government services remains to be seen, but Musk is committed to reshaping the system in his vision, regardless of the personal impact.
