alt Hacker News> Hyperloop was all about trying to get legislators to cancel plans
Sorry, I don't know the full story behind Hyperloop. But I really doubt he is trying to play a zero-sum or negative-sum game as the article hinted.
Setting aside all the disputes — the deals he made with people are positive-sum. Nobody is forced to buy a Tesla, or invest in, or work for SpaceX.
And in my personal view, all the article brings is deconstructive criticism — which does not fit my tastes. Maybe because I believe the world doesn't owe anyone anything. In fact, to make money, most of the time you have to play a positive-sum game and bring value to others. There is no shame in seeking profit — there is glory in it, if it comes through a positive-sum game.
Those who complain — they can always reject the deal and choose something else. And even better, go offer or support better products in the market and help the best one win.
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You clearly don't know the story behind Hyperloop. It was a scam to cancel High Speed Rail and set us back decades, that's it. It only worked because there are more selfish transplants here than locals, and amazingly every one of those idiots idolizes Elon Musk.
> In fact, to make money, you have to play a positive-sum game and bring value to others.
That is simply untrue; the opposite is the literal definition of rent-seeking behavior, which produces gobs of money, but provides no (or very little, at best) new value to others.