But What's In It For Me?

Every chance they get, Musk, trump, and their closest buds try to demonize "NGOs". NGO just stands for Non-Government Organization, or what we Americans usually refer to as a "nonprofit", like the Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, or Save the Children.

These guys claim that nonprofits are all corrupt and are stealing money to enrich their leaders. Musk has even claimed that organizations feeding starving children are criminal. This is because Musk and trump simply cannot believe anyone would want to do good things for other people. They believe the only reason to do anything in life is to make money. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, making the world a better place in some way -- these ideas just don't make sense to them.

Whatever they do, they're only in it for the money, and they assume other people are just like them. "Those charities must be stealing the donations," they think. "That's what I would do."

Telling them that they should support a program that cures disease is not persuasive, unless there is a way for them to profit from it. Telling them that cutting a program will cause suffering and death is not persuasive, because they do not believe human lives (other than their own) have value beyond the ability to generate profits. Once you understand this about them, the bizarre-seeming things they say and do are easily explained.

 

The Greater Good

Photo by Duncan Kidd on Unsplash

I turned on the TV this afternoon and saw the last 45 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan".

It occurred to me that most of this movie is probably incomprehensible to Comrade Krasnov, who simply can't understand why people would sacrifice themselves for the greater good. To him, there is nothing greater than the fulfillment of his own desires, the accumulation of wealth, the exercise of power in the service of petty grievances, the feeling of nasty satisfaction obtained from being able to destroy an entire nation.

A film like that is no doubt also meaningless to Musk, who is ignorant of American history, oblivious to patriotism, and unable to identify with people who want to help others.

After his life is saved, Private Ryan is advised that he should try to deserve what his comrades did for him, and he takes that to heart, striving to live a righteous life, to be a good man. Krasnov and Musk don't feel obligated to make such an effort; in their minds, they are entitled to have all life on earth sacrificed for them, simply because they have "good genes".

 

Ancient History

Caligula Appointing His Horse Incitatus to the Consulship, unknown author, 1616–1669. Source: The Art Institute of Chicago

The Roman emperor Caligula ruled for only four years before he was assassinated. Caligula was hated by the Roman people, and historians hated him, too. The tales of his madness and misdeeds are likely exaggerated, and sometimes invented, just to show what a monster he was.

In any case, it seems true that he was mentally unbalanced. He declared himself a god. He spent a fortune on his palace and put up statues of himself. He forced the Senate to watch him dance in the middle of the night. He passed laws to keep people from looking at his bald spot. He mocked and insulted people. He was also a sadist. Among other things, he sometimes locked up the food supplies so the population would starve. He really made politicians mad when he announced his plan to appoint his horse to the Senate, making it clear that he thought an unqualified beast could do just as good a job as anyone else.

His unpopularity reached its peak, and officers of his own Praetorian Guards conspired to kill him. Led by a man Caligula had mocked for having a squeaky voice, they stabbed him to death and then declared his uncle Claudius the new emperor. That's how they did impeachment in 41 A.D.

To this day, Caligula is remembered as a cruel, narcissistic, depraved tyrant. Unqualified political appointees are sometimes compared to Caligula's horse.

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Let's Make a Deal

Photo by Bahador on Unsplash

I asked Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, "What are the characteristics of a person who is good at making deals?"

This was the answer.

A person who excels at making deals typically possesses a combination of interpersonal, strategic, and intellectual traits. Here are some key characteristics:

Strong Communication Skills: They articulate ideas clearly, listen actively, and adapt their language to suit their audience. Whether negotiating terms or persuading someone, they know how to convey value effectively.

Emotional Intelligence: They read people well—picking up on cues like tone, body language, or hesitation—and adjust their approach accordingly. Empathy helps them understand the other party’s needs and motivations.

Confidence: They project assurance without arrogance, inspiring trust and credibility. This allows them to hold firm on key points while remaining approachable.

Preparation and Research: They come armed with facts—knowing their own bottom line, the other party’s likely priorities, and the broader context (market trends, competitors, etc.). Knowledge is their leverage.

Adaptability: They think on their feet, pivoting when negotiations shift unexpectedly. Rigid dealmakers lose; flexible ones find win-win solutions.

Patience and Persistence: They don’t rush or buckle under pressure. They’re willing to wait for the right moment or push through resistance to get the best outcome.

Strategic Thinking: They see the big picture—anticipating objections, planning concessions, and knowing when to walk away. Every move serves a purpose.

Persuasiveness: They frame their offers in ways that appeal to the other side’s interests, making it hard to say no. Storytelling or highlighting mutual benefits often plays a role.

Integrity: While they play hard, they don’t burn bridges. A reputation for fairness keeps doors open for future deals.

Resilience: Rejection or setbacks don’t faze them. They learn from losses and come back sharper.

Think of someone like a seasoned entrepreneur or a diplomat—say, a Chris Voss type (the ex-FBI negotiator) or even a fictional Tony Stark. They blend charm, wits, and grit to close the deal. Does that paint the picture you’re looking for?