Tesla CEO Elon Musk is one of those rare CEO who is willing to let fly with his opinions, regardless of the consequences. And sometimes, Musk even hits the mark, saying what some of his peers may be thinking, but can’t say, because woke pieties are safer.

Consider Mr. Musk’s response to questions about the Biden administration’s big spending plans and the proper role of government:

“I think the role of the government should be that of a referee, but not a player on the field,” replied Musk. “Government should try to get out of the way and not impede progress.”

Do go on:

The rules and regulations keep increasing every year. Rules and regulations are immortal, they don’t die. Occasionally you see some law with a sunset provision, but really, otherwise, the vast majority of rules and regulations live forever….Eventually it just takes longer and longer and it’s harder to do things. There’s not really an effective garbage collection system for removing rules and regulations. And so gradually this hardens the arteries of civilization, where you’re able to do less and less over time. So I think government should be trying really hard to get rid of rules and regulations that perhaps had merit at some time but don’t have merit currently.”

And of course this was good to hear, too:

After all, “the government is simply the biggest corporation, with a monopoly on violence and where you have no recourse,” said Musk, when asked if billionaires like him should have their wealth seized via taxation and redistributed by the federal government. Where’s the lie?

There’s no question Musk and his businesses have benefitted handsomely from government largesse. But his comments about the state’s power are still true. And perhaps there will come a day when he finishes the journey, and realizes that what government gives, it can just as easily take away.