Elon Musk and SpaceX — 60 Minutes’ Interview with an Inspiring Man — and the Contrast Musk’s Example Presents in regard to the Rest of America’s Pipsqueak Political and Economic Leadership

19 March 2012

On the one hand, a purposeless and floundering nation beset with smaller than morally tiny leaders

On the other, a remarkable man seeking to pick up America’s fallen torch.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk’s words underscore this contrast:

When something is important enough you do it, even if the odds are not in your favor.

Citation — to the video

Entrepreneurially courageous hazarding of his own resources in pursuit of an exhilarating purpose

Elon Musk is best known for creating PayPal and Tesla Motors. Now he is off in pursuit of his boyhood dream — going into space aboard his own company’s rockets.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been the fourth entity to launch a capsule into orbit and recover it afterward. The other three are Russia, the United States, and the People’s Republic of China. SpaceX is the only privately financed one.

Mr. Musk’s vision, and his ability thus far to pull it off, is so remarkable that it is virtually off the scale.

What is even more impressive — given the powerful low-lifes who inhabit politics and most of capitalism — Elon Musk is a visionary kid in an intelligent adult’s body

The most moving part of Musk’s interview with 60 Minutes comes when Scott Pelley reminded him that the famous astronauts Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan had testified to Congress in opposition to commercial space flight.

Musk teared up, just like a well-meaning child would when an adult defecates on his attempt to follow their example:

Elon Musk: I was very sad to see that because those guys are-- yeah. You know, those guys are heroes of mine, so it's really tough. You know, I wish they would come and visit, and see the hard work that we're doing here. And I think that would change their mind.

Scott Pelley: They inspired you to do this, didn't they?

Elon Musk: Yes.

Scott Pelley: And to see them casting stones in your direction?

Elon Musk: Difficult.

Scott Pelley: Did you expect them to cheer you on?

Elon Musk: Certainly hoping they would.

Scott Pelley: What are you trying to prove to them?

Elon Musk: What I'm trying to do is to make a significant difference in space flight, and help make space flight accessible to almost anyone. And I would hope for as much support in that direction as we, as we can receive.

The moral? — Our rotting society still has people to emulate, but you do have to look beyond the celebrity of selfishness to find them

Elon Musk represents the realized shine of kids’ dreams.

PeteFree.com

Elon Musk and SpaceX — 60 Minutes’ Interview with an Inspiring Man — and the Contrast Musk’s Example Presents in regard to the Rest of America’s Pipsqueak Political and Economic Leadership