3 ms·
Another fine example of the role of federal military funding in high tech research. Makes me chuckle whenever I hear a person employed in Silicon Valley refer t
by abalone 10y ago
Another fine example of the role of federal military funding in high tech research. Makes me chuckle whenever I hear a person employed in Silicon Valley refer to themselves as a "limited-government Libertarian". We're all sucking on the government's teat, buddy.
- deelowe 10y agoI doubt there's very many libertarians that would claim the private sector doesn't benefit from government spending at times. Every complex issue has it's nuances. Generally, the stance of libertarians is that the TCO associated with the military industrial complex FAR outweigh it's benefit.
- abalone 10y ago"At times" grossly understates the role of DARPA and other government support in creating technologies commercialized by Silicon Valley. The entire industry was a direct product of public investment and most key innovations are a culmination of long-term sustained taxpayer-funded research. Take for example autonomous driving. It's a product of DARPA. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA_Grand_Challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA_Grand_Challenge Even Siri on your iPhone is a result of decades of public investment in AI. See https://www.sri.com/work/timeline-innovation/timeline.php?timeline=computing-digital#!&innovation=siri https://www.sri.com/work/timeline-innovation/timeline.php?ti... Need I even mention the Internet itself..
- deelowe 10y agoAnd there are drones killing civilians in the middle east. Though we benefit greatly in the private sector from this relationship, some of us consider the harm it creates much greater. I had a very interesting talk with Vint Cerf about this a while back btw. It's a sad situation to be in.
- abalone 10y agoDoes he have any public comments on the matter? Would appreciate the link.
- deelowe 10y agoI'm not sure. We had a good conversation of the good and bad of working with groups like the DOD. He's happy to be with Google and recognizes the benefit of working with the DOD, but not exactly pro military.
- PhasmaFelis 10y agoI can benefit indirectly from military spending, and still feel that I would happily sacrifice that particular benefit to be free of the costs of military spending.
- abalone 10y agoYou would sacrifice pretty much the entire high tech industry? That's bold. Because that is what it would take, given the central role of DARPA and government spending in creating and sustaining it. Note that I am with you on wanting an alternative to military spending. My point is that SV "Libertarians" have for the most part made their money on the basis of massive taxpayer support.