There's a narrative about new businesses and startups that politicians and pundits in the U.S. like to tell. It's a magic wand that creates jobs and economic a

There's a narrative about new businesses and startups that politicians and pundits in the U.S. like to tell. It's a magic wand that creates jobs and economic activity without any public policy or investment - it solves problems without any effort on anyone's part - heck, you don't even need to go to college, they'll tell you, so we can cut education funding too. It's also appeals to the idea of rugged individualism. Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. I'm willing to bet that the next big Silicon Valley success won't be founded by a minority person who grew up in poverty, but by a white male, probably college educated, from a middle-class or wealthier background. Most other people don't have access to these opportunities. Also, the idea promotes the 'gig economy', an unstable, poor-paying alternative to real employment.