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Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

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Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#11

Post by verdverm »

techostritch wrote: post #7
taylodl wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The GOP can't force interest rate cuts unless they eliminate the Federal Reserve, and if they do that we're straight back to the boom/bust cycles of the late 19th century - which doesn't help the economy. Since we know tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires does not lead to economic growth and only serves to increase federal deficits, the policies the GOP favors lead to interest rates increases. Like I said, we j…

I have a question maybe you know, are boom and bust cycles good for the economy long term? Or is it too extreme to be useful, Like my understanding of risk in financial markets is that (though of course a security could go bust) a high risk security is one that has bigger swings, but that those bigger swings lead to bigger long term gains. I guess even if things go bust if you’re let’s call it morally flexible, boom…

1929 is an example where the boom-bust was extreme, leading to a lot of pain for a lot of people. The 2008-9 was less extreme and Covid (economically) may have been more extreme, but also short lived and we never had the recession that was widely predicted. It may be that we overreacted on the handouts and put too much money into the economy and now we are dealing with elevated inflation, though that is mostly gone now and we are slightly above historical averages.

I would not use the stocks as an analogy, most people don't have them, which in itself say something about our economy. There will always be an amount of turnover in the economy, going out of business / layoffs, new companies and hiring. Having a steady rate, within some margin of error, is an aspirational goal for economists / fed, but there will always be shocks...

The current issue to me is big changes or swings in policy. Presidents come in and reverse everything, Congress is incapable of passing incremental change, with the current session seemingly unable to pass just about anything...

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#12

Post by temporarely »

taylodl wrote: post #5
verdverm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand... 1. How a few people translate to the entire SV... (well, I do because hyperbole is what media does now, they stopped being journalists) 2. What the GOP platform is for prices & inflation. Tax cuts, 10% tariffs, forcing interest rate cuts, and mass deportation would all seem to lead to more money in the economy or direct price increases

The GOP can't force interest rate cuts unless they eliminate the Federal Reserve, and if they do that we're straight back to the boom/bust cycles of the late 19th century - which doesn't help the economy. Since we know tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires does not lead to economic growth and only serves to increase federal deficits, the policies the GOP favors lead to interest rates increases. Like I said, we j…

We have definitely experienced "boom bust cycles" since the creation of the Federal Reserve. The very first such bust was called the Great Depression.

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#13

Post by p51-remorse »

taylodl wrote: post #3

I don't understand this myopic thinking. Maybe a Trump administration will deregulate Big Tech, but how does that help you when the EU will just block you and fine you? What's the real gain to be had there? What's the point in having your tax burden reduced if it means realizing greater interest? Have they forgotten that Trump had the largest increase in US deficits in history? Have they forgotten that those deficits…

> how does that help you when the EU will just block you and fine you?

Well, which candidate is more likely to push back on those rules? The US has plenty of ways to put pressure on foreign law; the current admin just hasn’t been doing it.

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#14

Post by tbatchelli »

What does "Silicon Valley" mean here? A few people who struck gold and became billionaires and they loathe the system that got them where they are? Or the general population that work in tech companies in the Bay Area?

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#15

Post by contrarian9923 »

There's very little evidence in my view that Republicans intend to be friendlier to big tech than Democrats. Democrats take vastly more big tech donations still, and its still a significantly smaller percentage of their politicians that are culturally or ethically opposed to a "free and open" internet than in the Republican party, which has a significant contingent of traditionalists that (sometimes understandably) view the unrestrained spread of the internet and related technologies as inherently evil (the Democrats mostly stop at saying its partially evil and just needs more competition or some form of very light regulation). There's a significant social conservative / anti big-tech overlap.

Its also the case that the Republican party is trending overwhelmingly in an anti big-tech direction recently, whereas the Democrats mostly seem to be treading water at about the same overall position.

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#16

Post by [deleted] »

taylodl wrote: post #3

I don't understand this myopic thinking. Maybe a Trump administration will deregulate Big Tech, but how does that help you when the EU will just block you and fine you? What's the real gain to be had there? What's the point in having your tax burden reduced if it means realizing greater interest? Have they forgotten that Trump had the largest increase in US deficits in history? Have they forgotten that those deficits…

[deleted]

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#17

Post by techostritch »

contrarian9923 wrote: post #15

There's very little evidence in my view that Republicans intend to be friendlier to big tech than Democrats. Democrats take vastly more big tech donations still, and its still a significantly smaller percentage of their politicians that are culturally or ethically opposed to a "free and open" internet than in the Republican party, which has a significant contingent of traditionalists that (sometimes understandably) v…

Isn’t the point that the VC’s want the Republicans to be anti big-tech (and pro small tech) I wonder if there’s a strategy for like AH to move more towards core tech and away from consumer tech I.e. things that have been politically controversial. I’ve been wondering how these movers might work with the religious right and this might explain it.

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#18

Post by hakfoo »

techostritch wrote: post #6
verdverm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand... 1. How a few people translate to the entire SV... (well, I do because hyperbole is what media does now, they stopped being journalists) 2. What the GOP platform is for prices & inflation. Tax cuts, 10% tariffs, forcing interest rate cuts, and mass deportation would all seem to lead to more money in the economy or direct price increases

> 2. What the GOP platform is for prices & inflation. Tax cuts, 10% tariffs, forcing interest rate cuts, and mass deportation would all seem to lead to more money in the economy or direct price increases I hate to be this cynical because I think policymakers and economists who lean in different ideological differences all have contributions to make, and in some way probably value right wing economic ideas slightly mo…

The way they've completely given up on education is the key evidence they have no economic vision.

No matter what stimulus hack you do for the next quarter, you need to be educating the next generation in a way that leaves us competitive with other industrial powers. They don't even talk about outcomes and scores anymore-- they just stoke social warfare. You know, if the kids are reading because there's an "OMG OBSCENE" book in the library, AT LEAST THEY'RE MOTIVATED TO READ.

America is not doing a good job of presenting a voice for the future. China has "we're cheap and we've moved fast on greentech." Many Western European countries have gone the boutique/artisan/high quality route. Where does American manufacturing fit into the story?

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#19

Post by smackeyacky »

tayo42 wrote: post #10

The article is really about how a few people got rich in silicon valley stand to get richer with a republican government. Someone calling Biden the worst president in his life? Such a disconnect from reality

You have to remember the ever intensifying info bubble that people wrap themselves in these days. It's quite possible to completely ignore objective reality when you're staring at a phone. Biden may well be the worst president that people think they experienced because they see no news outside of the outrage machines that are driving societies divisions.

The problem is the outrage machines. They have to be curtailed. That no two people experience the internet the same way any more thanks to the various big tech algorithms has to stop. Most sensible people have abandoned Facebook/X by this stage but that still leaves a lot of people in thrall to curated garbage.

Re: Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

#20

Post by pfannkuchen »

hakfoo wrote: post #18
techostritch wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 2. What the GOP platform is for prices & inflation. Tax cuts, 10% tariffs, forcing interest rate cuts, and mass deportation would all seem to lead to more money in the economy or direct price increases I hate to be this cynical because I think policymakers and economists who lean in different ideological differences all have contributions to make, and in some way probably value right wing economic ideas slightly mo…

The way they've completely given up on education is the key evidence they have no economic vision. No matter what stimulus hack you do for the next quarter, you need to be educating the next generation in a way that leaves us competitive with other industrial powers. They don't even talk about outcomes and scores anymore-- they just stoke social warfare. You know, if the kids are reading because there's an "OMG OBSCE…

American manufacturing won’t have to compete on a level playing field with foreign competition if there are significant tariffs though, which is part of the platform AFAIK. So I guess it would fit as “making things Americans buy”?
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