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I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#641

Post by junto »

n00b101 wrote: post #482
junto wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing you don't have a wife and children. It isn't about the money, it's about not seeing them. You are also forgetting that it isn't just your sacrifice in terms of the time you are giving up with your wife and children for three months, but also that you are forcibly restricting them from being able to see you too. They didn't choose that. Once you have a family you have a bunch of responsibilities and you'v…

> You are also forgetting that it isn't just your sacrifice in terms of the time you are giving up with your wife and children for three months, but also that you are forcibly restricting them from being able to see you too. They didn't choose that. “He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much. He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”

You missed the point. Your anecdote is about the returns gained when you choose to personally sacrifice one thing to gain another.

My point was that in this scenario, you are forcing sacrifices on other people whether they like it or not through your actions.

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#642

Post by endophage »

dvainsencher wrote: post #585
roymurdock wrote: post #554

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This bonanza of profits that automation yields is taxed. Optimizing companies will do everything possible to avoid the corporate taxes (>60%) required to make universal basic income a reality. If you are assuming that winning companies are the best at implementing automation and reducing cost, it is a fatal mistake to assume that they will suddenly become charitable when it comes to wealth redistribution - no, they…

It is a job of the government to counteract destabilizing influences such as the wealth concentrating effects of technology and under-competition. As a foreigner living in the US, the US government honestly sucks eggs at it. Healthcare, banks, cable, broadband, cell phone service, Google, Apple, Microsoft... all classic antitrust cases across the board, waiting for an un-captured regulator. If world governments conti…

A Universal Basic Income is not necessarily paid to everyone, at least not directly. A UBI means a certain income level is guaranteed, if you are earning more than the guaranteed level, you may not be given anything in addition. This is most clearly demonstrated by one proposed implementation of UBI, namely, a negative income tax. A negative income tax would entail those earning below the guaranteed level being paid enough to raise their income to the guaranteed level. Those earning more than the guaranteed level are taxed.

Negative Income Tax is pretty much the only implementation of UBI I personally could get behind. I just wouldn't be able to support an implementation of a UBI that pays Bill Gates the same amount as a person born with a severe disability (which obviously they had no choice about being born with).

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#645

Post by [deleted] »

BinaryIdiot wrote: post #625
nikcub wrote: post #617

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All but one of the accounts was created before Jason tweeted about it. and i've been around here long enough to know that even when outsiders do link to threads you don't get 50%+ green comments without sockpuppets

> All but one of the accounts was created before Jason tweeted about it. What about before Sam tweeted? What about any other outlets that linked to HN? > and i've been around here long enough to know that even when outsiders do link to threads you don't get 50%+ green comments without sockpuppets Sounds like, instead of relying on data, you already have your narrative set so it doesn't really matter what anyone says.…

[deleted]

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#646

Post by TimPrice »

cybin wrote: post #568

Hey Sam: So I've been working diligently for the last few weeks putting the final edits on my application to YC. I'm 68 years old an the only founder. On the positive side I've got almost 50 years of work in the project that defines the state of the art. Am I wasting my time in applying considering my age and singleness?

If you can afford it, keep going at it!

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#647

Post by DrScump »

DKnoll wrote: post #211
phibit wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Your ancestors came here for the same reason as him, and with far less scrutiny, same as mine, and were provided many benefits not recieved today, including land grants. There has been a dramatic change in economic and social climate in the Americas. Our vague "ancestors" entered Canada and the US in times where it might not have been so magnificent to immigrate, and as such they were presented with incentives to i…

Canada just accepted 25,000 Syrian refugees fleeing war and something much worse than communism. The social and economic climate has changed dramatically, you're right. We no longer have a climate condusive to a free-for-all exploitation of Aboriginals, Africans, and the environment.

26,000-something have arrived in Canada but not accepted for permanent residency as yet.

For example, Sweden is denying residency to, and sending back, almost half its current arrivals from the Syria/Iraq theater.

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#648

Post by DKnoll »

DrScump wrote: post #647
DKnoll wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canada just accepted 25,000 Syrian refugees fleeing war and something much worse than communism. The social and economic climate has changed dramatically, you're right. We no longer have a climate condusive to a free-for-all exploitation of Aboriginals, Africans, and the environment.

26,000-something have arrived in Canada but not accepted for permanent residency as yet. For example, Sweden is denying residency to, and sending back, almost half its current arrivals from the Syria/Iraq theater.

Wow I didn't realise Sweden was the same country.

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#649

Post by MawNicker »

endophage wrote: post #642
dvainsencher wrote: post #585

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a job of the government to counteract destabilizing influences such as the wealth concentrating effects of technology and under-competition. As a foreigner living in the US, the US government honestly sucks eggs at it. Healthcare, banks, cable, broadband, cell phone service, Google, Apple, Microsoft... all classic antitrust cases across the board, waiting for an un-captured regulator. If world governments conti…

A Universal Basic Income is not necessarily paid to everyone, at least not directly. A UBI means a certain income level is guaranteed, if you are earning more than the guaranteed level, you may not be given anything in addition. This is most clearly demonstrated by one proposed implementation of UBI, namely, a negative income tax. A negative income tax would entail those earning below the guaranteed level being paid…

It wasn't Bill Gates' choice to be born without a disability. Honestly, I despise your opinion. Bill Gates pays so much more in taxes that a basic income would hardly matter to him. It's just part of his tax calculation: X% - UBI. It's nothing to us either. There aren't many Bill Gates out there. Also, in this way nothing needs to be measured. It's simply: Are you human? Here's your UBI. Do you have income? Here's how much you owe in taxes.

The system for everyone should be the same. It's simpler and more fair. Bill Gates deserves to know that if he lost it all tomorrow we would take care of him. We can make one system that ensures everyone is cared for. The sickly and the ambitious. I don't think we have the proficiency necessary to keep people from falling through the cracks otherwise. Maybe in very specific cases (like Bill Gates) but not at scale. There are disabilities that exist that we don't even know about yet.

Re: I Am Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. AMA

#650

Post by DrScump »

DKnoll wrote: post #648
DrScump wrote: post #647

Earlier quoted context omitted.

26,000-something have arrived in Canada but not accepted for permanent residency as yet. For example, Sweden is denying residency to, and sending back, almost half its current arrivals from the Syria/Iraq theater.

Wow I didn't realise Sweden was the same country.

Exactly which part of "for example" was unclear?

Getting back to substance, did you research how many of the 26K have been granted permanent residency?

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