Musk's peace plan was not very well received. It may have been a tactic to distract from the fact that the numbers fell short of expectations. It was one of a growing number of mistakes that must have many in Musk wondering what to do.
Musk proposed a four-part plan that included recognizing Russia's claims to the Crimean peninsula, a commitment from Ukraine to remain neutral, and NATO membership. Last week, Ukraine applied for NATO accession.
The sham referendums on the annexation of occupied territories of Ukranian by Russia were held last month and Musk suggested that the people should decide. Two days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian government blew up a dam that had been built to cut off the water supply to the peninsula.
People were asked if they agreed or disagreed with Musk's plan.
They didn't. Musk's followers accused him of pushing Russia propaganda and misunderstanding what the war is about. The diplomat from Ukranian summed up the sentiment when he replied to Musk with "Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you."
Volodymyr Zelensky asked his less than 6 million followers which one they liked more, the one who was pro-Ukraine or the one who was pro- Russia.
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
Musk lost a lot of goodwill when he sent the Starlink terminals toUkraine to increase internet access. These appear to have been paid for by the U.S. government. Musk dives casually into an issue beyond his expertise as his employees and company shareholders shake their heads. It was obvious from the moment Musk said he was going to buy the company that he didn't have a good idea of the challenges the company was facing.
Musk is brilliant about a lot of things, including his use of social media, which keeps him in the headlines despite the fact that he has stopped using traditional PR functions. Maybe he has good intentions. Sometimes it is unclear. He undermines himself when he talks about things he isn't an authority on social media.
Some argue that it doesn't affect sales and that people who disapprove of Musk still love their car. Someday in the not-too-far future, with no shortage of companies nipping atTesla's heels and a growing stack of reasons for people to look at other manufacturers' cars, that may change.
Some of the headlines that Musk has generated this year are surprising. Engineers might have rushed to work for the company in the past because of Musk, but his various statements are giving them pause. This guy is serious. Is he crazy? Does he have control over his actions? Musk, whose management style has been described as ruthless, treated the company like a bauble that he wanted, then trashing it.
Musk's addiction to fame has helped fuel his rise to the top of the corporate world but there is always a tipping point. What comes up must come down eventually, however, and by alienating a wide swath of people, he is almost certainly speeding this process along. Maybe that is what he wants for himself. Musk might take a lesson from his own self-driving software if not.
Musk is a cool guy and thanks for the Starlink but it would be wonderful if he were to carry out votes on things that he knows about. We don't vote on Nelson Mandela.
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