Elon Musk has caused controversy yet again by suggesting that those without children should be stripped of their right to vote. In a response to a Twitter thread discussing the spread of Islam in France, the SpaceX CEO claimed that “the childless have little stake in the future” and agreed with the sentiment that democracy may need to limit suffrage to parents in order to solve the “procreation problem.”
Yup
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 2, 2023
Musk, who has 10 children, has previously spoken out about the dangers of underpopulation, warning that “population collapse is a major risk to the future of civilization.” He has argued that Earth is not overpopulated, despite there being an estimate of nearly two billion more people added to the global population in the next 30 years. Musk claims that the illusion of overpopulation is preventing people from seeing the true risk of population collapse due to low birth rates.
However, many have criticized Musk’s suggestion, calling it undemocratic and exclusionary. Voting rights have long been a contentious issue, with many believing that they are a fundamental human right that should not be stripped away for any reason. Additionally, limiting suffrage to parents could create a divide between those who have children and those who do not, potentially leading to discrimination and unfair treatment.
It is also worth noting that birth rates have been declining for over a decade, with the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbating the trend. It remains to be seen how governments around the world will address this issue, but taking away the right to vote from those without children is unlikely to be a popular solution.
Despite this backlash, Musk remains committed to increasing the population through having more children. In April, he claimed that he was “doing [his] part” to fight underpopulation, and warned that there was a “big reckoning coming due to low birth rate.” He has also stated that population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming, although he still acknowledges the latter as a significant issue.
Overall, Musk’s comments on voting rights and population control have caused a stir, with many questioning the feasibility and morality of limiting suffrage to parents. It remains to be seen whether or not his views will gain traction in the public discourse or if they will fade into obscurity.
