In an unprecedented Twitter Spaces discussion, the entrepreneur and budding Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy joined Elon Musk and David Sacks to share his unique vision for America, its challenges, and the direction he believes the nation should take.
In a conversation with entrepreneurs Elon Musk and David Sacks, Ramaswamy confronted the challenges, tensions, and aspirations that lay ahead.
Ramaswamy, whose resume boasts founder of Strive, successful biotech entrepreneur, Harvard Law graduate, and father of two sons, is no stranger to complex narratives. This complexity was evident as he strived to create more than a pre-scripted conversation in today’s discussion.
“We are all so starved in our generation; we are hungry for something bigger than ourselves,” Ramaswamy said, echoing a sentiment that is particularly resonant amongst millennials. Addressing Musk’s pondering about the point of existence and what the future should look like, Ramaswamy urged for a national revival, a deeper exploration of what it means to be an American.
He painted a vivid picture of his generation being in a ‘national identity vacuum,’ saying, “What did you just ask me – in my generation. This is what it means to be a citizen in this nation. That fills part of that vacuum. That gets me going.”
Musk, too, has his eyes fixed on the future, albeit one more aligned with Star Trek in addition on the American dream. Musk shared his vision of America as a force of good, advocating for furthering civilization and ultimately becoming a multiplanet species. He argued for an understanding of the nature of the universe and expansion of the scope and scale of humanity. “But it would be nice if Star Trek was real one day,” Musk quipped, to which Ramaswamy replied, “That would be phenomenal.”
However, Ramaswamy reminded the listeners that before we reach for the stars, there’s a lot of exploration to be done within our own identities. “There is exploration within. We are like a bunch of blind bats flying in a cave, finding out where we are – we send out sonar signals. This is where I am. What is it that bounces off of? The nation. The faith, the family. I created something. I worked hard. This is where I am.”
Ramaswamy’s vision of a future America is grounded in the rebuilding of what he considers to be essential pillars of society: national identity, family, faith, and personal achievement. “My mission is to rebuild some of those basics,” he said.
The conversation took a somber turn as Musk expressed concern over what he sees as a self-destructive trend in elite American circles and colleges. He referenced instances of self-loathing and anti-American sentiments, equating them to a form of “flogging for success.” Ramaswamy agreed, linking these symptoms to a broader societal issue of self-hatred on the individual level.
Acknowledging the complexity of reviving American pride and confidence, Ramaswamy said, “If we don’t get that right, we won’t have a country like that, and it would be a loss for the world.” He firmly believes in the potential of America, not just as a nation, but as an example of what’s possible based on shared ideals.
As the conversation turned to the topic of the rise of China and the future of the American economy, Ramaswamy spoke on the need for maintaining America as a meritocracy. He cautioned against complacency, highlighting the importance of learning from history, especially the rise and fall of civilizations like ancient Rome.
The issue of education and the spread of self-hating ideologies via federally funded institutions also came under fire, with both Ramaswamy and Musk strongly critiquing the system. The conversation moved from there to a broader discussion about the manipulation of public perception and the abuse of power by major institutions.
Ramaswamy cited the outsourcing of critical voting decisions by major players like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity as an example of a broken system ripe for disruption. In a candid critique, Musk suggested that these institutions are setting themselves up for “the greatest class action lawsuit” by going against their shareholders’ interests.
However, in all this, Ramaswamy remains hopeful and committed to fostering a culture of truth and transparency. “Americans can handle the truth,” he affirmed, advocating for a future in which citizens are more involved in the processes that govern them.
In a conversation that traversed the vast terrains of American identity, economic future, educational crisis, and space exploration, it became evident that Ramaswamy, a newcomer to the political scene, has no intention of holding back. His words provided an intriguing glimpse into his vision for America, a vision grounded in revival, self-exploration, and national identity.
His parting words encapsulate this sentiment best, “I am not a moderate. American ideals are radical, extreme. Self-governance, free speech – that’s extreme for most of human history. But that extreme set of ideas is what makes us American.” It’s clear that, in the American political sphere, this is just the beginning for Vivek Ramaswamy.
