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The Unexotic Underclass

miter.mit.edu

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Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#51

Post by Surio »

205guy wrote: post #31

I don't disagree with the article, but I had 2 thoughts form in my mind while reading it: 1) I don't think entrepreneurs (and tech ones at that) have solved any problems, even for the upper classes they cater to. Instead, they have become popular and profitable the old-fashioned way, by creating and filling a need. Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--t…

Regarding your point 1) I agree, but it will never fly in a technology-centric place like this that practically worships anything "tech"! In effect, things like vaccine breakthrough, free sanitation, etc., are much more impactful, but are no longer making headlines or headway, in a way that they should. You have a good point.

As for point 2, I agree too, but that won't fly either (for the vested interest of many in the crowd interested in being entrepreneurs) :-|

Quick EDIT:

>> where are the non-tech entrepreneurs? Are there solutions that don't >> require computers anymore? Are there ways to get funding for such a solution?

non-tech entrepreneurs? Like hedge funds? ;)

You ask a very good question, but this being HN, you won't find too much publicity on it. If you are interested, here's one guy who works on that spectrum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Polak

HTH :)

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#52

Post by Surio »

elithrar wrote: post #32
205guy wrote: post #31

I don't disagree with the article, but I had 2 thoughts form in my mind while reading it: 1) I don't think entrepreneurs (and tech ones at that) have solved any problems, even for the upper classes they cater to. Instead, they have become popular and profitable the old-fashioned way, by creating and filling a need. Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--t…

> Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--though it does make possible the vast stores of knowledge and likely the entire tech sector (including my livelihood). I disagree. You can spin this many ways. I look at "search" as solving the problem of "easy access to information" - however one must understand that it is not an unsolved/solved problem (varying d…

>> I disagree. You can spin this many ways.

You've answered him, as well as yourself... It depends on the frame of reference in approaching this... If you take a hovering big picture view, what you say is all good, but in reality, on a individual/micro level, 95% of this "search on the net" business is all about "finding deals", and assorted mindless tivia. :)

Someone argues (more convincingly than I can ;) ) that more choice and more information is not necessarily better http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_choice

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#53

Post by overgard »

ebiester wrote: post #44

It's pretty simple. The Unexotic Underclass Doesn't Have Cash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of the country had 4.2% of the country's wealth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Distribution_of_Weal... Frankly, it doesn't make sense to target anyone but the top 40% of the country. Roll a 20 sided die. If you roll a 1, put in the pile that goes to the bottom 60%. If you roll a 2-20, put it in the money that goes to the…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_companies_by_re...

Judging by that list, the notion that you can't make money off the unexotic underclass seems suspect. Even excluding Oil and Gas, the vast majority of the companies are not exactly luxury brands for the upper class.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#54

Post by sologoub »

This article seems to have good intentions, but it does so much insulting to the audience in the first several paragraphs that I struggled to read further...

The disgraceful state of the veterans really is a problem that can be solved rather easily with automation. Unfortunately, doing business with the government is very trying. From little experience that I have first hand, keeping the status quo is also very profitable.

As to the rest of the problems, people who point out the cash flow issues are spot on. For example, most European countries file childcare right there with education as a good that cannot be left to market forces. They all tend to have stagnated or declining populations, with extremely negative views on immigration. That is hardly the view point in the US. We seem to still think that healthcare can be completely addressed by market forces. (If you are sick and can't work, how are you going to make those payment again? Oh yeas, insurance! Too bad it's tied to the employment you no longer have...)

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#56

Post by wyclif »

snowwrestler wrote: post #55
justzisguyuknow wrote: post #35

"Of the single mothers, the majority is White, 1 in 4 is Hispanic, and 1 in 3 is Black." This does not add up.

Hispanic is an origin; white and black are races. Hispanics can be white or black (or another race).

...for example, Filipino. Asian, but colonized by Spain the 16th century.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#57

Post by csallen »

overgard wrote: post #53
ebiester wrote: post #44

It's pretty simple. The Unexotic Underclass Doesn't Have Cash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of the country had 4.2% of the country's wealth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Distribution_of_Weal... Frankly, it doesn't make sense to target anyone but the top 40% of the country. Roll a 20 sided die. If you roll a 1, put in the pile that goes to the bottom 60%. If you roll a 2-20, put it in the money that goes to the…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_companies_by_re... Judging by that list, the notion that you can't make money off the unexotic underclass seems suspect. Even excluding Oil and Gas, the vast majority of the companies are not exactly luxury brands for the upper class.

True, but very few of the companies in that list are in industries that entrepreneurs feel confident about entering.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#58

Post by whiddershins »

kyllo wrote: post #3

I noticed that devs on HN often sneer at CRUD apps because they're boring to build, but meanwhile a simple CRUD app could do something like make all these veterans' medical benefit claims paperless so that they can get filled out and approved in minutes rather than months , and they could get the care they need sooner. One could do a lot of good by just making CRUD apps for people who need them and can't afford to pa…

This and all the responses to it seem hopelessly naive to me. Obviously, if there is a delay in benefits, the delay has been introduced as a cost cutting measure. The more you delay, the less you pay. This is a pretty typical measure for large organizations trying to surreptitiously reduce costs (see welfare or HMOs) and the problem has nothing to do with logistics.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#59

Post by csomar »

205guy wrote: post #31

I don't disagree with the article, but I had 2 thoughts form in my mind while reading it: 1) I don't think entrepreneurs (and tech ones at that) have solved any problems, even for the upper classes they cater to. Instead, they have become popular and profitable the old-fashioned way, by creating and filling a need. Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--t…

Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life.

I disagree. Maybe you are talking about yourself. Google almost changed my life. The productivity boost that it gave me helped in creating the products and shaping the learning curve.

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