Isn’t that the point of the whole charade?

That’s part of the point.

It’s a part of the broader “privatization” scam Republicans have been running for years.

It’s not actual privatization in any meaningful sense of the term, since it’s still entirely government funded and there is no market.

Instead, it’s simply that instead of the government giving money to one of their own agencies to do something, they give that money to a private contractor.

There are a few notable benefits to the Republicans, and to politicians more generally, when it’s done that way:

First, government employees in general, and their unions especially, tend to be much more likely to support Democrats than Republicans. That’s a significant reason that the Republicans particularly like “privatization,” and likely the only reason that Democrats don’t.

Second, government agencies are fixed entities that don’t have to compete for a contract, so there’s no opportunity for Senator Lardbottom’s wife’s cousin to set up an organization to provide [X], much less for Senator Lardbottom to then steer the contract to him and collect kickbacks for doing so.

Third, responsibility is diffuse enough that nobody generally gets the full blame when the contractors do a shitty job. The government can just say, “Take it up with the contractors,” and the contractors can just say, “Hey - we fulfilled the terms of the contract - if that’s not enough, take it up with the government.” And then when the hubbub dies down, the contractors can just go back to doing shit work for too much money and paying kickbacks to the officials that steered the contract to them.

Oh, and a bit of a side note - this dynamic of privately-owned businesses closely allied with the government and a sort of “revolving door” between business leadership and political leadership is common in fascist governments.

Well then it’s a GOOD THING President Musk isn’t the CEO of a TON of Private Companies!

Surprised Pikachu Face

Create chaos and force a new continental convention so the far right can shove a new constitution with provisions for the oligarchy, theocracy fascist takeover.

At the cost of billions…

I wonder if this is influencing his decisions?

Elon Musk’s mass government cuts couldwill make private companies (and wealthy donors) millionsbillions.

yep, lets make the entire process less efficient so taxpayers have to pay more for the same thing because now someone has to profit.

what a fucking waste of time and money.

“Could make”

Congrats Palantir, Coinbase, SpaceX, Tesla, and Starlink. I truly wish the most accurate sharp shooter gets a hold of your executive board and CEO.

Honestly in some fucked up way I’m impressed with Thiel. He lives up to the “evil billionaire” stereotype. Genuinely smart, probably planning this for a decade plus, hidden in the shadows,set to make insane money, and has a scapegoat ready to go in case things go south.