Why are black pastors like Dr. Steve Caudle lying on Elon Musk by claiming he is involved in theft of social security numbers and/or checks? That answer is no more diffcult than understanding that irrespective of level of education, African American preachers remain low-information leaders who lead a largely low information population.
Let me be clear that as a native South African, Elon is no friend of black folk, and Republicans do not claim to be a party intereted in our plight. However, where is the legislative proof that Democrats are either?
As a Black pastor deeply invested in the welfare of my congregation and community, I've been closely watching the swirling controversy around Elon Musk's involvement with Social Security files.
There's been a lot of talk, especially in the African American community, about Musk potentially stealing our Social Security checks and numbers. As much as I hate to say this, I am stunned at the simplicity of black folk who have been driven into a frenzy by self-serving community and black church leadership.
Musk, being around my age and having grown up in South Africa during apartheid, carries with him a perspective shaped by those times. I've stated plainly that there's no love lost between Musk and the Black community either in America or South Africa.
Born into a system where racial divides were institutional, one might question his empathy or understanding of Black aspirations.
Moreover, I've been vocal about how, under Donald Trump's administration, Musk was tasked with dismantling DEI programs which hurts true, and historically effective Affirmative Action.
However, as a man of faith, I recognize the complexities here; DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) was initially about righting historical wrongs, but its narrative has been co-opted, leading to confusion and division.
I've seen firsthand how this shift has affected civil rights gains, particularly with the inclusion of the LGBTQ movement in these discussions, which has muddled the original intent of civil rights advocacy.
A difference exists between DEI and Affirmative Action, namely that DEI is about “who I feel I am” while Affirmative Action is “biologically and racially, I can prove who I am.” This seems nuanced but it is this same nuanace which Donald Trump probably doesn't understand and I am sure my collegues do not either.
There is a national cohort of black community and religious pastors who have utterly failed to recognize this yet have called for aggression against Donald Trump.
The claim that Elon Musk is stealing Social Security checks, and numbers from African Americans is, frankly, laughable to me. Yet, let's unpack why this narrative has gained traction:
Media Influence: Democrat-leaning news outlets are quick to paint Musk with a villainous brush, often aligning his actions with fears about minority. On the other end, Republican media outlet paint him as a selfless, avenging angel righting the wrongs of a fraudulent government. Neither is true! Being apolitical, I see through this; no president, whether Democrat or Republican, has truly followed the teachings of Jesus in governance.
Echoes in the Church: I've spent decades around Black community leaders, particularly in churches, where I've observed a disturbing trend: many repeat political talking points without grounding in facts.
This isn't just anecdotal; it's backed by measurable data over the years. Next time a black pastor makes some political statement accusing someone of another party, ask them when the last time is they read legislation that black folk vote for and against? As someone who does take the time to do so, neither Democrat or Republican politicians are who they appear to be.
The Economics of the Situation: With a net worth around $400 billion, what would Musk want with the Social Security checks of the poor? The real issue here, which has become evident through these audits, is fraud - not personal gain for Musk.
This does not suggest he does not have a huge, profit driven end goal because he does. Right now, one of his companies, Starlink, is assisting in conducting the war against Russia in Ukraine.
Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) isn't about personal data theft but about sniffing out inefficiencies and fraud within federal systems, including Social Security. Again, not for patriotic reasons!
His team has access to databases to address glaring issues like payments to deceased individuals or other discrepancies. This initiative isn't about targeting any demographic but about safeguarding a system that millions rely on.
However, the narrative that Musk might misuse this data for personal gain or political leverage is pervasive. Yet, the narrative often misses the point: Musk is uncovering significant fraud, not exacerbating it.
As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, I see similar scrutiny applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs. I, for one, welcome his review of government files even though my name, as well as those I served with, are there.
There's no concrete evidence that DOGE's access is being misused. Instead, Musk's involvement seems more about applying his tech expertise to streamline government operations, a move that will be potentially profitable for him through ventures like Starlink or AI leasing in the future.
The backlash Musk faces is not just about Social Security but reflects a deeper mistrust of tech moguls in government roles and the loudest voices come from those who don’t deny fraud has occurred, rather that it is being brought to light.
Political rhetoric amplifies this; Musk's public stances and changes to platforms like X have made him a polarizing figure. This situation brings to light an essential debate: balancing privacy with the need for governmental efficiency.
Every administration sees private sector involvement in government, but Musk's high profile makes his actions particularly scrutinized. His team has reportedly "read-only" access, a safeguard, but the community's call for oversight isn't just about what Musk might do with the data; it's about a long-standing distrust in how any data is managed by those in power.
What's needed is clearer communication from Musk about his intentions and results. The dialogue between tech leaders, government officials, and the public, especially those from historically marginalized communities, must be robust.
I support auditing corrupt systems, as I've seen firsthand how government funds are misallocated or misreported. For instance, the discrepancy in aid to Ukraine under Biden's administration is telling.
In conclusion, while the fear of Musk stealing Social Security is overblown, the underlying issues of privacy, efficiency, and trust are real. We live in a time where pointing out corruption can be more vilified than corruption itself, which is a sad commentary on our society.
Moving forward, we must ensure that any initiative aimed at government efficiency does not compromise the very people it's meant to serve.
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