Robert Reich’s Call to Sever Ties with SpaceX – A Risky Proposition for U.S. Space Dominance

Robert Reich, once the Labor Secretary, now a professor at Berkeley, has set his sights on Elon Musk—the man behind SpaceX. Reich’s latest argument isn’t just a simple critique; it’s sharp, even biting. He’s frustrated, claiming that Musk has become a figure of growing concern. What he suggests, however, is where things get dicey… He thinks the U.S. should cut ties with SpaceX altogether, a move that feels more like lighting a fuse than solving any real problem. Imagine the ripple effect—a decision like that wouldn’t just hit Musk. It would send shockwaves through NASA, the military, and beyond.

Picture it—what would the space industry look like without SpaceX? It’s not a pretty sight. The commercial space travel revolution we’re living through might never have taken off. Musk didn’t just change the game—he flipped the whole table over. SpaceX brought us reusable rockets, cutting launch costs in ways that were unimaginable before. The Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy don’t just shoot up into space… they come back down, ready for another mission. If not for this tech breakthrough, NASA astronauts would still be left scratching their heads, choosing between an old, aging spacecraft or crossing their fingers for a ride on a Russian Soyuz. A world without SpaceX? Grim.

Robert Reich: Jobs must NOT go to White male construction workers

This is the manlet who wants to see @elonmusk arrested.

And if you wonder: Yes, ofc he is. pic.twitter.com/qh36aZ2eAW

— Highlander (@Highlander_Dux) September 3, 2024

And the moon… without SpaceX’s Starship, America’s dream of stepping back onto the lunar surface would be nothing but a distant echo. Instead, China could very well be the next to stake its claim. Private space stations, colonies on Mars, flights like Inspiration4—all of these possibilities would be snuffed out. The U.S. military? It’d be scrambling too, struggling to secure space as geopolitical threats rise.

Now Reich steps into this picture, waving a flag of warning. He claims SpaceX is edging toward a monopoly. Sure, the numbers don’t lie—SpaceX did handle 88% of U.S. space launches in the first half of the year… but there’s more to this than just percentages. It’s not about dominating the field—it’s about providing consistent, affordable results. And let’s not forget, the competition isn’t standing idly by. Rocket Lab is making moves, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn is on the horizon, ready to challenge SpaceX’s reign.

What really gets Reich heated, though, is Musk himself. He points to Musk’s unpredictable nature, reminding us of the CEO’s admission of having Asperger’s. There’s this quiet, almost whispered fear—could Musk go off the rails, the way Howard Hughes did? Yet, so far, there’s no real proof that Musk’s quirks have endangered any project or compromised national security. NASA, after all, managed him just fine when they needed him to focus on Crew Dragon, setting aside Starship. Musk, for all his eccentricities, seems to remain… controllable, if you will.

Robert Reich is a Communist who wants to “rein in” Elon Musk & have him arrested for promoting free speech.

These leftists continue to unmask themselves & show the world who they are. pic.twitter.com/lHxpBU6UIe

— The Constitutional Conservative (@TheCCShowcast) September 3, 2024

Then there’s the Ukraine situation—Reich zeroes in on Musk’s decision to block Starlink from being used in Ukraine’s operations against Russia. At first glance, it feels reckless. But dig a little deeper, and you see Musk wasn’t acting out of impulsiveness. He was careful, avoiding a direct clash with Vladimir Putin that could have landed him in a world of legal trouble. And ultimately, Starlink continued under a Pentagon agreement, keeping Musk’s hands relatively clean of direct conflict. What looked like recklessness was, in fact, restraint.

Reich isn’t just some loud voice in the void—his background as a former cabinet secretary and professor gives his opinions a certain weight. But, as solid as his credentials may be, his suggestions veer into dangerous territory. Going after Musk’s finances, or even worse, trying to strip him of his freedom? That feels not only extreme but misguided. SpaceX has propelled the world forward, and taking Musk down would do far more harm than good… It wouldn’t just hurt one man—it would shake the foundation of U.S. national security, technology, and the very future of space exploration.

Major Points