Musk Wrangles with World Food Program
After the World Food Program WFP declared that Elon Musk could solve world hunger with only 2% of his net worth, Musk announced “If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.” This tweet was likely caused by Musk’s skepticism of the claim, as opposed to a genuine interest to donate. Unlike Musk, the WFP is taking his ultimatum seriously, as many peoples’ lives are at stake due to a looming food crisis. The WFP responded to Musk’s tweet by explaining that the headline was blown out of proportion, and was not created by the WFP. “Headline not accurate. $6B will not solve world hunger, but it WILL prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation. Let’s talk, too much is at stake to not at least have a conversation.” Instead of this response being met with an open mindset, and an interest in how his wealth could be helpful to others, Musk combatted this offer with more friction, referencing irrelevant WFP scandals and requesting an unrealistic level of public transparency. Musk is using anything he can as a weapon to fight against the WFP, and this demonstrates how his interest lies more in exposing the WFP than helping those in need. If Musk’s intentions really were to stop world hunger, he would have done everything within his means to do so. Furthermore, he would have worded his responses to WFP with less combattance and more unbiased receptiveness. Musk’s response is not acceptable, because he should feel a sense of moral obligation to use his privilege to help others.
“[It is] understandable for Elon Musk to [seek] transparency in the World Food [Program’s statement],” senior Alexandria Lam said. “[However,] the problem is that Elon Musk
[likely] was not planning on donating in the first place. [Elon Musk] should help with [global] issues like the food crisis because [he] has [money] and resources that others do not.”
In response to this Twitter thread, some people say that it does not matter if Musk was planning on donating money to help solve world hunger to begin with, as it is his money and he can do with it what he pleases. While it is true that Elon Musk is not technically required to use his money to help others, he certainly should have a sense of moral obligation to do so, as his money has the power to save millions of lives. One scenario often used to demonstrate the obligation all have to offer their resources to help save those in need, is known as the “Drowning Child Scenario” created by Philosopher and Bioethicist Peter Singer. First, he would ask “When you happen upon a child drowning in a lake. Would you try to save the child?” Most people answer yes. Then he would say “There is no time to empty your pockets so if you enter the water to save the child you’ll ruin your cell phone. Would you still help the child?” Most still answered yes. He would then say ”If you try to save the child, there is a 50 percent chance that you’ll be unsuccessful. Would you still help the child?” Most people answered yes to each of these questions, then Singer drew a parallel to the starving people all over the world saying “if you did indeed answer ‘yes’ to every question in the scenario, the only conclusion is that you should be offering every resource at your disposal to help children dying around the world.” While this is an extreme way to showcase the obligation to help others, it shows that neglecting to donate money to help starving people around the world is the same as neglecting a child drowning in a lake. Everyone, including billionaires like Elon Musk, should use the resources at their disposal to help save others.
“It would be [best] if rich people helped the poor,” Sophomore Ethan Huang said. “But they are not necessarily obligated to [do so], because at the end of the day, it is their money.”
Elon Musk should donate his money, because only 2 percent of his wealth would save the lives of many people on the brink of starvation. In many third world countries, working families make anywhere from one to three dollars each day, and are subjected to low quality foods at the expense of their health. Those who cannot get jobs likely do not know where their next meal is coming from, and will starve if not aided by support systems such as the WFP. This crisis is not to be made light of, and Elon Musk should use his time and resources to take initiative to solve this problem instead of engaging in Twitter feuds.
“From a moral standpoint, [Elon Musk] should absolutely [feel obligated to] help the poor,” freshman Madeleine Chang said. “It is like that saying we always [hear as] children; ‘sharing is caring’.”
