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PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

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Re: PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

#31

Post by sown »

Prrometheus wrote: post #20
JoelSutherland wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The danger of advice from somebody with everything on the line is a lack of objectivity. Personally, I don't think we need to make any sweeping changes to encourage entrepreneurship directly. The United States is already a great place to start a business. The key making sure that is true 20 years from now by continuing to invest wisely in education, research, energy...etc.

>The key making sure that is true 20 years from now by continuing to invest wisely in education, research, energy...etc. And by keeping taxes and regulations light and minimal. I would like to point out that our government's investments in education and energy haven't gone very well, though its investment in general research probably does more good than harm.

And by keeping taxes and regulations light and minimal.

But no more than that.

I would like to point out that our government's investments in education and energy haven't gone very well, though its investment in general research probably does more good than harm.

It's also worth while to point out that many other industrialized nations have also made investments in energy and education and had better results. So, we shouldn't abandon the idea (as you seem to be implying) but rather take a good look at how we do things.

Re: PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

#32

Post by vlad »

yters wrote: post #25
mixmax wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see your points, and what your goals are with this, but I think that you and Cuban are getting in on the wrong level. He wants to make sure that tech entrepreneurs are heard in the new government - which I certainly agree is a good idea. Both for the entrepreneurs and the economy. My grudge with the post is that he finds it perfectly reasonable that tech entrepreneurs should be represented at the very top level of…

What drives America's economy? Investment or innovation? Where has the most influential innovation come from? Macroeconomics is a step removed from the people who really make it work. So, to get the best macroeconomics we need to make sure we get things right at the micro level. I don't see this happening with people who've spent their lives at the macro level. EDIT After reading the article, I also see you've set up…

You're correct, the OP made a strawman argument. However, Cuban is not exactly saying that he wants non-technical people on the team. He's saying an entrepreneur should be represented, as there are lots of them and they drive the economy (he then proceeds to list examples of many professions that are entrepreneurs.)

Re: PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

#33

Post by vlad »

mixmax wrote: post #27
yters wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What drives America's economy? Investment or innovation? Where has the most influential innovation come from? Macroeconomics is a step removed from the people who really make it work. So, to get the best macroeconomics we need to make sure we get things right at the micro level. I don't see this happening with people who've spent their lives at the macro level. EDIT After reading the article, I also see you've set up…

I just reread the article, and you're right about the strawman. Got a bit carried away in the discussion apparently :-)

That was the whole point of my response. :) It would have been a lot simpler had I not edited out the first line of my post, which called your original post a strawman and linked to the definition. Since I had read the entire article carefully, and within the context of Mark's posts that I had read in the past, I thought Hacker News would appreciate knowning the actual views expressed in Mark's article.

Re: PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

#34

Post by sown »

vlad wrote: post #16
mixmax wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mark Zuckerberg was just the one that sprung to mind, but I think the argument would be pretty much the same if I had used Jeff Bezos - who was a stockbroker before he founded Amazon, and thus should be somewhat experienced in macroeconomy. My point is that making economic policy, especially in the current environment, is a difficult and specialised task. The people that have the best shot at getting it right are the…

I wouldn't want Robert Rubin to be the CIO of my startup either, even though I know he's as smart and dedicated as anyone. While I have to agree that it would be hard to find such versatile people, the argument is not logical. If a implies b, it doesn't mean that b implies a. If it did work that way, then it would mean any CIO could never make a great expert on finance and economy, and vice versa, and that's not qual…

"Therefore, it is not qualifiable that entrepreneurs should not feel they should be represented by some economist or expert in finance who has entrepreneurial experience."

They're not really supposed to receive representation in a cabinet position. That is what the legislature is for.

Re: PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake

#35

Post by joubert »

Maverick schmaverick. However, to give you the benefit of the doubt, name 3 startuppers that you would propose. BTW, do you seriously think Warren Buffets advice on macroeconomics would be worth less than someone who has started the corner deli?
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