@louis the problem is we’ve developed a dependency on Musk’s companies, so withholding government contracts may not be a credible threat. 1/

@louis the kids may have developed a dependency on TikTok, but the consequences of forcing them to go cold turkey or to reels or whatever may be more tolerable than, say, our military losing communications infrastructure. 2/

@louis nationalizing the firms, or just more coercively forcing Musk’s divestiture, preserves the access we rely upon. it sets a precedent you might consider damaging or dangerous, but depending how it’s done, might usefully be a discouragement to monopoly. the only reason nationalization is on the table is because we lack alternative vendors. firms that want to avoid this risk can ensure their industries are structured more competitively. /fin