This is whataboutism, and off topic to the current discussion of whether or not this is discrimination due to Elon Musk's political beliefs.

I would challenge people to consider the possibility that they too could someday run afoul of the powers that be for not ascribing to the proper political beliefs of the ruling party. Even if you find Elon Musk's political beliefs absolutely abhorrent, please do not support such disgusting politically motivated abuses of power against him. We don't punish people for their political beliefs in a proper democracy.

> Should it be more or less protected than race?

Equal.

> Tesla as a company seems to think protected class doesn't matter.

I don’t see evidence for this. Sure any examples of discrimination like those in the article are bad. Is it deserving of $137 million in punitive damages that are arbitrarily decided? I don’t think so. But regardless of that case, I am fairly certain most people in Tesla and Musk himself feel race should be a protected class.

Arbitrarily decided is how all judicial and jury decisions are made. They're all arbitrary. There are no objective court cases like this one. We have a justice system, it arbitrates. Sometimes those decisions are surprising. But like, using arbitrary in this way suggests you don't like the judicial apparatus generally.

Can you explain why systematic racism in one of the richest company's in the world isn't deserving of the amount of damages awarded and that the amount is arbitrary? Should the amount have been lower so they would effectively not feel it and feel emboldened to continue with their actions? Would you have been ok with a lower fine and jail time for anyone in the org chart that knew?