4 ms·

Does the ACLU have any new product/entrepreneurial goals for the future? Without, it would seem this is a somewhat unusual association.

actsasbuffoon 10y ago
The new product is called "civil liberties." I signed up for their mailing list. I hope I get invited to the beta!
- spacemanmatt 10y ago
  I have been using mine for decades and they're truly excellent. 10/10, would recommend. I really hope they continue to kick out more good products.
  - JoblessWonder 10y ago
    I was lucky enough to inherit some so I try and help the ACLU spread the love to others who might not.
  - gepoch 10y ago
    I got some when I launched, but I haven't really found a use for them. Sad to see so many products sharing the fate of the Apple watch.
    - RileyKyeden 10y ago
      Most people's civil liberties work so smoothly they don't even notice.
joshmarlow 10y ago
I think this makes sense strategically for multiple reasons: - YC would undoubtedly like to ensure there are no barriers to immigrant founded startups that they would like to invest in - ensuring that there are fewer barriers to employment by immigrants in invested startups - generally trying to build a better more open world (which is in line with the UBI initiative [0] as well as the stated interest in investigating new concepts for city design [1]) [0] - https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/31/y-combinator-announces-basic-income-pilot-experiment-in-oakland/ https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/31/y-combinator-announces-bas... [1] - https://www.wired.com/2016/07/y-combinators-plan-build-new-city-not-actually-crazy/ https://www.wired.com/2016/07/y-combinators-plan-build-new-c...
- ihsw 10y ago
  Except diversity-based hiring is no more than farcical politicking, building a better and more open world is an empty slogan, and barriers to employing immigrants are important to prevent the same violent demographic change we have seen in Europe.
  - benwad 10y ago
    What violent demographic change have you seen in Europe? I've lived here all my life (London/Amsterdam) and the only people I hear talking about the "terrible state of Europe" are Americans who have never been here.
  - anigbrowl 10y ago
    building a better and more open world is an empty slogan You don't speak for me. I favor a world without closed borders where labor can move as freely as capital does and transactional and jurisdictional burdens are coordinated so as to be minimal. I'm very impressed by the EU's Schengen agreement permitting free movement between all EU states, and I doubt any Americans would favor interstate border restrictions despite the sometimes huge differences between individual states. You're welcome to hold a different opinion, but that's all it is.
Eridrus 10y ago
Right, I'm sort of confused by what YC will do for the ACLU besides donate some cash to try to make up for the Thiel optics.
burkaman 10y ago
YC has been donating to nonprofits for a few years. It's not an investment, and the relationship is not the same as the one they have with startups. I think the general idea is just to support a good cause, and give them access to a bunch of rich entrepreneurs who might want to partner or donate.

actsasbuffoon 10y ago

The new product is called "civil liberties." I signed up for their mailing list. I hope I get invited to the beta!

spacemanmatt 10y ago
I have been using mine for decades and they're truly excellent. 10/10, would recommend. I really hope they continue to kick out more good products.
- JoblessWonder 10y ago
  I was lucky enough to inherit some so I try and help the ACLU spread the love to others who might not.
- gepoch 10y ago
  I got some when I launched, but I haven't really found a use for them. Sad to see so many products sharing the fate of the Apple watch.
  - RileyKyeden 10y ago
    Most people's civil liberties work so smoothly they don't even notice.

joshmarlow 10y ago

I think this makes sense strategically for multiple reasons: - YC would undoubtedly like to ensure there are no barriers to immigrant founded startups that they would like to invest in - ensuring that there are fewer barriers to employment by immigrants in invested startups - generally trying to build a better more open world (which is in line with the UBI initiative [0] as well as the stated interest in investigating new concepts for city design [1]) [0] - https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/31/y-combinator-announces-basic-income-pilot-experiment-in-oakland/ https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/31/y-combinator-announces-bas... [1] - https://www.wired.com/2016/07/y-combinators-plan-build-new-city-not-actually-crazy/ https://www.wired.com/2016/07/y-combinators-plan-build-new-c...

ihsw 10y ago
Except diversity-based hiring is no more than farcical politicking, building a better and more open world is an empty slogan, and barriers to employing immigrants are important to prevent the same violent demographic change we have seen in Europe.
- benwad 10y ago
  What violent demographic change have you seen in Europe? I've lived here all my life (London/Amsterdam) and the only people I hear talking about the "terrible state of Europe" are Americans who have never been here.
- anigbrowl 10y ago
  building a better and more open world is an empty slogan You don't speak for me. I favor a world without closed borders where labor can move as freely as capital does and transactional and jurisdictional burdens are coordinated so as to be minimal. I'm very impressed by the EU's Schengen agreement permitting free movement between all EU states, and I doubt any Americans would favor interstate border restrictions despite the sometimes huge differences between individual states. You're welcome to hold a different opinion, but that's all it is.

Eridrus 10y ago

Right, I'm sort of confused by what YC will do for the ACLU besides donate some cash to try to make up for the Thiel optics.

burkaman 10y ago

YC has been donating to nonprofits for a few years. It's not an investment, and the relationship is not the same as the one they have with startups. I think the general idea is just to support a good cause, and give them access to a bunch of rich entrepreneurs who might want to partner or donate.