3 ms·

I also thought it was a slightly inappropriate metaphor, but it gets the point across.

• jMyles 10y ago
  By "the point," do you mean that the government intends to initially encourage innovation, only to later stifle, repress, and criminalize the elements it doesn't like? I mean, that's the reasonable application of the metaphor, right?
  • msvan 10y ago
    My point was that, assuming most people are unfamiliar with Chinese history under Mao, the expression will have positive connotations.
    • dmix 10y ago
      And those who are familiar with China under Mao will also find historically accurate connotations with Obama's quote.
    • trex9024 10y ago
      Obama's a thoughtful guy. I'm guessing he knew what he was saying. Perhaps it's a warning, looking at the history of tech, invariably all are tested for nefarious purposes, whatever the original purposes were.
  • awqrre 10y ago
    that sounds like something Obama would do when you put it like that...