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Nvidia Starts Pac as AI Chip Maker Builds DC Influence Force

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31–40 of 46 posts

Re: Nvidia Starts Pac as AI Chip Maker Builds DC Influence Force

#32

Is the problem here NVIDIA or is the problem that our government doesn't function unless there's a pac funneling money into decision-making? Hardly surprising to see a company with strategic interests strategically try to achieve them. A business exists to make money, and if pulling policy levers is required to make money, you'll see them try to pull the levers. Reverse Citizens United and you solve these kind of pro…

So the first step down the lobbying-is-good-for-governance that both sides embraced was when they defunded the congressional research office. So a vital way in which congress "informed themselves" was basically minimized to the point that the only way for congress to now inform themselves is via lobbying and th eonly way to write complex legislation is via those lobbyings. This is the endpoint of that effort and the…

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Re: Nvidia Starts Pac as AI Chip Maker Builds DC Influence Force

#37

I treat this as a sign of the inevitable terminal phase of any private cooperation in US: they start to invest their resources to stretch into areas that are irrelevant to their core mission, but they have to, because their core mission is accomplished already, and their business, which is built on top of the fruits of their core mission, needs protection beyond direct means relevant to their core mission. When pursi…

The company first invests in engineering/technology/product, in order to actually build a product, find the market fit, and innovate.

Then the company invests in operations to scale the success they are having.

Then the company invests in accounting and finance to squeeze costs and move numbers around, so they can make line go up without physically doing anything.

Then the company invests in lawyers to attack competition and defend their business from attacks.

Finally, the company invests in lobbying to shape the rules such that they don't even have to do any of the above four to make line go up.

Re: Nvidia Starts Pac as AI Chip Maker Builds DC Influence Force

#40

Is the problem here NVIDIA or is the problem that our government doesn't function unless there's a pac funneling money into decision-making? Hardly surprising to see a company with strategic interests strategically try to achieve them. A business exists to make money, and if pulling policy levers is required to make money, you'll see them try to pull the levers. Reverse Citizens United and you solve these kind of pro…

The mundane solution is to give congressional offices more money for in-house staff with expertise on technical issues.

A lot of the "lobbying" is not really pressure groups, it's sort of a corporate-financed knowledge base congressmen can ask questions when they want to understand like, how to expand the semiconductor manufacturing base in their state. Of course it's not all altruistic on the PAC's part, but it is seen positively by individual congressmen because it solves a real need on their side they can't meet with underpaid 24 year old staffers.

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