I am also an admirer of Mr. Musk. However, wasn't his car built with a large federal subsidy? I am more impressed with SpaceX, not for some Mars expedition, but for showing the world that private enterprise can do space faster and cheaper than NASA with its massive bureaucracy.

Back in the day, Tesla was getting funding for his experiments by JP Morgan. When Morgan found out that Tesla basically wanted to develop his technology for the purpose of providing free energy to the world, through a means similar to Galt's motor, JP Morgan dropped him like a hot potato. There in no power to be had over people by making them independent.

couldn't have said it better-

Well, yes, that is all well, fine, and good. I can grant a sanction. However, beyond that, Musk's playing footsie and being in bed with government is not just some accident of commerce, like selling light bulbs to the Post Office. He really does pursue government involvement.

And he has been victimized by it. Here in Texas where Republicans rule in the name of Business, his company was forbidden from selling cars online through their showrooms. The automobile dealerships lobbied the legislature -- and none of those Republicans was morally outraged at the suggestion that they interfere in the free market.

Just to say... Musk maybe victimized like Rearden who at first hired Mouch, or he may be James Taggart ... or the hapless Paul Larkin... or something else entirely. Henry Ford did business with both Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia. We can condemn the man or just wish that he had read Atlas Shrugged.

Elon Musk is fab. It’s wonderful to watch a purpose-driven life in action.