21–30 of 63 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.
I don't understand this this sentiment. Surely, you can be well off while simultaneously support taxing the rich?
It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…
I'd wager that this one difference is the root of all the discrepancies you noticed.
It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…
And if they cared about the housing situation they 'd have turned the workers to remote long before covid. In fact i d wager many of the tech millionaires benefit from the high prices of their own real estate investments. Plus the high prices ensure a continuous churn of eager immigrant workers, concentrated in a small area.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.
Assuming you're referring to AOC going to the MET Gala, I feel you're implying she spent $35k of taxpayer money to get there, while she was in fact invited. Calling it "nihilistic" is a bit strong considering the robe matches her policy positions and congress votes.
We need to be very skeptical of arguments that say “only X%” without explaining what they think the number should be and why. Is there any value of X where this article would not have been written?
The $65M denominator on that percentage is also very low compared to typical industries, so the combination of low percentage and low denominator sticks out. Though I tend to credit tech for not lobbying a ton, unilateral disarmament is not always viewed positively.
Also, the only reason this editorial/article is being written at all is that tech is viewed as "friendly" and amenable to persuasion.
Though I do find it offensive that the tech companies are members of the Chamber of Commerce without refuting the Chamber's bad actions. That would be free! In fact, that's probably the biggest red flag for me in the article.
It is not anti-business to support climate action, quite the opposite. Yet somehow the Chamber pushes forward ridiculous and outdated politics that will harm most business in the end, while only benefitting fossil fuel companies and investors.
Tech really needs to stand up to bad organizations, or drop their membership. Their membership is a political action that is in direct contradiction to their stated goals.
It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…
Oil basically powers the modern world. Everything from food production through material manufacturing to basic transport collapses without oil. Food abundance, even if it's can be barely called that like corn syrup, is the most basic soma. No politician would even think risking it. Meanwhile you could swap out Facebook for any other social network with barely any noticeable change in the economy and world. People can…
Sure - but that's also true of computers.
Oh, I'm not saying tech companies should be equal to oil companies. But today's tech companies don't seem to have even 5% the power of oil companies.
It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…
Has the tech industry been particularly pro-housing? It doesn’t seem to be where they’re focusing their lobbying efforts, despite some recent actions.
... I mean ... if anyone thought that big business's support of anything is anything more than self centered, I dunno, I guess it's nice to be naive. Businesses are pro LGBT, pro-climate, pro-abortion only because they know that is where the legislative, regulatory and media power is. I would actually find it surprising if the author of this article though that big-tech's pro-climate rhetoric was founded in some deep…