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Elon Musk Declines Twitter Board Seat, LinkedIn Censors Code Of Vets Founder – Is There Still Hope For Free Speech?

Many speculation has been generated by the news that Elon Musk, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, has decided not to join the Board of Directors. It is not clear why the billionaire advocate of free speech would make this decision. Musk doesn’t seem to be able to take a business decision without giving a reason. We can therefore assume that this was a deliberate move. 

Elon Musk Resigns from the Twitter Board of Directors

One possible reason that stands out to me is that part of the agreement had Musk joined Twitter’s Board of Directors was that he would not own more than 15% of shares for the duration of his tenure plus 90 days after. I’ll get into why that matters more later.

Elon Musk’s net worth is hundreds of millions of dollars. Elon Musk is SpaceX’s founder, CEO and Chief Engineer. He’s also an early-stage investor, CEO, and Product Architect of Tesla, Inc. He is the founder of The Boring Company, and cofounders of OpenAI and Neuralink.

It is not the man who wastes his money or time. His money. Twitter is a company that the business magnate has invested in for a purpose.

Musk had once instructed his Tesla workers to avoid large meetings and keep them short. Also, he advised them not to attend meetings with too many people. It was no problem for Musk to limit his buying power in order to be able sit on an inefficient board that elevates a platform or, at best, suppresses accessible flowing communication.

Elon’s recent actions have no doubt rocked social media. One vocal critic of big tech’s decision to continue to pick and chose what it censors with what looks to be living corporate terms regarding what is considered harmful speech.

The Twitter CEO doesn’t even really believe that they should uphold the tenets of free speech. While most of the uproar surrounding arbitrary censorship surrounds platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, other platforms aren’t immune.

Are You Open to Speak Unrestricted?

LinkedIn made news this past week when it disabled an Air Force veteran’s account and non-profit account over a post they deemed hate speech. Code of Vets is Gretchen Smith’s non-profit, which she founded after witnessing the impact of PTSD on her dad.

As a result of President Biden’s extension of the student loan payment suspension to August 31st Gretchen wrote on LinkedIn:

“I am not responsible for your student debt. Growing up in NC poverty, I was a poor child. Eaten from a vegetable garden. My name was put on the community Angel Tree for Christmas. I bought clothes at yard sales. If I was fortunate, Sky City. The Air Force was my first choice, and I then went to college. I made it happen.”

I can identify so strongly with this statement as a USAF Veteran. Even if I didn’t eat from a garden or have the same financial situation as Gretchen.

After I was drafted into the Air Force, I received my college education via Tuition Assistance. Bill. Like many other Americans and veterans, I don’t believe the government should forgive student loans.

Arguments that Gretchen or myself were educated for nothing are not valid. They do not reflect the true extent of military service.

The Code of Vet founder responds to LinkedIn Censorship

Gretchen was interviewed on Fox News by Gretchen.

“What did I do wrong? My story was shared. That’s how I grew up.”

You can find a platform where you are encouraged to express your truth, share your story and be professional. However, there seem to be some obvious caveats.

  • As long as you are able to be your true self, it will work for us loudest.
  • As long as your story is consistent with ours, tell it.
  • Be your version of a professional, provided it doesn’t impede our profits.

Big Tech’s History of Censorship

Big Tech censorship is something that can be fought? Are social media platforms allowing free speech? How can someone as powerful and rich as Elon Musk manage such a feat?

Following Twitter’s suspension of New York Post for reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop, the Code of Vets story was published.

A story widely touted by ‘reputable’ news sources and over 50 intelligence community members as Russian disinformation now quietly on these same sources admitted to be real news. Our country took part in this most important election.

S.E. Cupp Exposes Media Double Standard On Hunter Biden Laptop Story … On CNN

Big Tech, Mainstream Journalism and Mainstream Journalism all amplified those who were severely wrong in many areas while silenced scientists and doctors that turned out to have been essentially right during COVID. The doctors asked reasonable questions concerning the origin of the virus which has decimated the whole world. These doctors questioned whether school and business closures were effective.

We find that many of these questions are valid two years later. These claims should cause us to pause about how much power Big Tech and Mainstream Journalism hold over our country.

Everyday Americans are Censored by Social Media 

The outrage at President Donald Trump’s removal from Twitter captured by Republicans all across the country.

More interesting, however, is the fact that close to 100,000 Americans claim they have been subject to online censorship according to American First Policy Institute. Nearly half of Americans know somebody who was temporarily or permanently blocked from social media platforms.

It sounds like ordinary Americans are being actively censored via mainstream Social Media platforms more than famous politicians.

The Chinese Communist Party has what they refer to as a social credit system. They rank their citizens, punishing those who don’t align with the CCP’s socialist ideal. Does this sound familiar?

Internet is meant to encourage free speech, and connect people of different ideas.

Social Media was specifically designed to foster critical thought and encourage the exchange of views. It’s been used to combat authoritarian leaders who are bent on controlling and censoring ideas that run counter to their efforts. It is believed that absolute power can corrupt absolutely.

Elon Musk: Our New Hope

We live in an age where Big Tech has the ability to control who talks, who takes part, and which information is true. Elon Musk might be the remedy to this total power, I believe.

Read also: Elon Musk May Be ‘Strange’ – But That’s Why He Could Be Our Free Speech Champion

That brings us back to my earlier question – why might Musk turn Agrawal down?

Elon Musk can buy a larger percentage of Twitter if he declines a seat on the Board of Directors. This could mark the start of shareholder advocacy.

Elon is a free-speech absolutist who bodes well for every American. His latest signal to the Twittersphere may be that he is telling them to get rid of their resumes.

Don’t worry, though; LinkedIn has a great feature where you can update your profile pic to alert people that you are #opentowork.