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July 21, 2021

Jeff Bezos Thanks Amazon Workers and Customers for Paying for His 10-Minute Suborbital Flight
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The world's richest man completed a 10-minute suborbital flight aboard
his Blue Origin spacecraft Tuesday. Jeff Bezos spoke at a news
conference after his crew landed.

Jeff Bezos: "I want to thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon
customer, because you guys paid for all of this. So, seriously, for
every Amazon customer out there and every Amazon employee, thank you
from the bottom of my heart very much."

Bezos's remarks drew sharp rebuke. Washington Congressmember Pramila
Jayapal tweeted, "If Amazon paid its workers fairly and did not fight
unionization, workers would not be funding the expensive hobbies of
billionaires. They would be taking care of their families and living
dignified and fulfilling lives." She also noted that the 11-minute
"joyride" cost over $2.5 million a minute. "Yes, it's time to tax the
rich," she said. Meanwhile, Oregon Democratic Congressmember Earl
Blumenauer is proposing a tax on commercial spaceflights that have no
scientific value. "Space exploration isn't a tax-free holiday for the
wealthy," said Blumenauer. Others drew attention to the environmental
impact of recreational space exploration, with author and former Labor
Secretary Robert Reich tweeting that the billionaire's rocket launch
emitted 200 to 300 tons of carbon dioxide per rider.


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