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The tech industry seems to be a bit like Hollywood in how it supports the military industrial complex - the pendulum swings between 'pro-totalitarianism' (where

The tech industry seems to be a bit like Hollywood in how it supports the military industrial complex - the pendulum swings between 'pro-totalitarianism' (where everyone signs up the the Patriot Act of the day without hesitation) and something more 'pro-democratic' (when a Snowden type situation comes along and freedom stuff gains traction). In a way we are lucky that money talks in the U.S.A., it allows for this dynamic. If too much 'totalitarianism' hurts the bottom line then things get pushed back a bit and the noose loosens a bit. All the government needs is another big polarizing incident and I am sure Microsoft will be back doing as much of the government's dirty work as possible.

intrasight 11y ago
I don't think it as much "money" as it is "power". "money" unfortunately seems to have no opinion on this case. If it did, we see more wealthy people chiming in. However, Apple is a very powerful player - not only in the tech community but in the global cultural context. They rarely wield this power in that larger context. I am glad they are doing so in this case. Microsoft is a bit too late the user security game. Since they don't make their own CPUs, they can't play in the same league.
studentrob 11y ago
> In a way we are lucky that money talks in the U.S.A. Money talks, but votes are king. When we collectively vote a politician out of office, his or her money dries up. In a way, votes are made more powerful by money. Check out This American Life's episode on "Take the Money and Run for Office" [1] Dick Durbin: I think most Americans would be shocked-- not surprised, but shocked-- if they knew how much time a United States senator spends raising money. And how much time we spend talking about raising money, and thinking about raising money, and planning to raise money. And, you know, going off on little retreats and conjuring up new ideas on how to raise money. [2] ... Barney Frank: If the voters have a position, the votes will kick money's rear end any time. I've never met a politician-- I've been in the legislative bodies for 40 years now-- who, choosing between a significant opinion in his or her district and a number of campaign contributors, doesn't go with the district. [2] [1] http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/take-the-money-and-run-for-office http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/t... [2] http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/transcript http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/t...

intrasight 11y ago

I don't think it as much "money" as it is "power". "money" unfortunately seems to have no opinion on this case. If it did, we see more wealthy people chiming in. However, Apple is a very powerful player - not only in the tech community but in the global cultural context. They rarely wield this power in that larger context. I am glad they are doing so in this case. Microsoft is a bit too late the user security game. Since they don't make their own CPUs, they can't play in the same league.

studentrob 11y ago

> In a way we are lucky that money talks in the U.S.A. Money talks, but votes are king. When we collectively vote a politician out of office, his or her money dries up. In a way, votes are made more powerful by money. Check out This American Life's episode on "Take the Money and Run for Office" [1] Dick Durbin: I think most Americans would be shocked-- not surprised, but shocked-- if they knew how much time a United States senator spends raising money. And how much time we spend talking about raising money, and thinking about raising money, and planning to raise money. And, you know, going off on little retreats and conjuring up new ideas on how to raise money. [2] ... Barney Frank: If the voters have a position, the votes will kick money's rear end any time. I've never met a politician-- I've been in the legislative bodies for 40 years now-- who, choosing between a significant opinion in his or her district and a number of campaign contributors, doesn't go with the district. [2] [1] http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/take-the-money-and-run-for-office http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/t... [2] http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/transcript http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/t...