4 ms·

I don't think anybody in the tech industry has the balls to come out as a Republican. The backlash would be awful. Thank God votes are secret, still.

by gassed 8y ago

collyw 8y ago
That's pretty scary when you think about it.
niij 8y ago
> in the tech industry In the liberal bubble that is the Bay area. There's tech industry outside of that bubble, throughout the Midwest, in cities like Austin. SF isn't the only place people are writing software.
scrollaway 8y ago
Speaking as a non-american: People don't want to come out as Republican because of how corrupt Republican representation has become. Republicans used to be respectable. There's still a few respectable figures in Congress and the Senate but even they have to follow the abhorrently partisanship, otherwise they aren't getting reelected. The republican base has turned on its head and has been massively radicalized. So if you "come out" as a republican, today, in this climate, then you're outright saying you agree with this radicalization. (Regardless of whether you do agree) I know a lot of republicans who don't agree with it and, right now, there isn't really a party for them. So they still call themselves republicans and either lie to themselves to deal with their choice (or ignore the bad news), or they fall into the constant propaganda. I've seen several end up converting to Democrats (or at least strongly consider it). Theory: I suspect the US, after all these decades, is finally correcting back towards a less right-shifted spectrum. As the current GOP moves to the extreme-right, non-extremists shift left and, if they end up democrats, there will probably be a split of the "Liberal" party and the "Democratic" party. This would mirror the more European models.
- malvosenior 8y ago
  Everything you said could also be said about the Democrats, except the safe to come out as a Democrat because they control all of the media, tech companies, and generally hold power in the West.
  - jki275 8y ago
    They generally hold power in urban areas, not just the west. The rest of the country tends right. As you say, both parties are often corrupt, the reps tend to be the family values party so you actually hear about it when they have a problem in that area. It's expected in the democrat world and nobody cares, plus they own the media almost wholly so it's not really reported much.
  - scrollaway 8y ago
    Even as you sit with an extreme-right president and near-state-sanctioned hard-right media, you claim that "Democrats are in control". And why exactly do you claim that? How is it relevant? I'm answering a completely different question, about "coming out" as republican.
    - malvosenior 8y ago
      > Even as you sit with an extreme-right president and near-state-sanctioned hard-right media, you claim that "Democrats are in control". The press and Trump are basically at war with one another. I can't see how you can claim they're both hard right. All the mainstream press (aside from Fox) endorsed Clinton.
      - scrollaway 8y ago
        Fox isn't just "any" media, it's state media. Your president watches it religiously and they have an immense influence over what he says. He has chosen to go to war with the press. To shut out reporters from the press corps. To viciously and regularly attack various media. You are slowly approaching a Russian-like regime where, if an outlet is not to the president's liking, it gets shut out entirely. It's blatant, and most republicans refuse to acknowledge it (all the while claiming they're pro free speech etc). Will you personally also be OK with that when it happens, since "well at least the democrats won't be in control anymore"? I'm scared for your country. Seeing the effect of propaganda after-the-fact in countries like Russia, North Korea, China, and many other dictatorships... it's one thing. Seeing it happen live, that's just out of this world for me.
- sjg007 8y ago
  I don't think republicans have ever been respectable except back when they were actually "democrats". In 1860 the democrats were largely racist southerns bent on states rights and the republicans were northerners who viewed the expansion of the Federal government as a good thing for social justice and the country. By 1930 the parties had effectively swapped names which the modern political reality reflects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_State...
sjg007 8y ago
I'm pretty sure there are a bunch of Randian republicans all across the tech industry.
koolba 8y ago
> I don't think anybody in the tech industry has the balls to come out as a Republican. The backlash would be awful. Indeed it's quite rare. Look at how the few Republican supporting tech leaders get crucified (ex: Thiel). Most people don't want do deal with that and even fewer have the financial resources to risk being blackballed. > Thank God votes are secret, still. Damn straight. Though it does make it awkward trying to explain the concept of a silent majority in the midst of raving leftists.
throwawaymanbot 8y ago
no one has any problems with Republicans. Its Republicans in a party that has openly allowed avowed Nazis. (Yes you read that right) to run as the GOP candidate. I think there were 12 at the last count? Not to mention the Hypocrisy of hammering on about freedom, (except if you are a woman and you are making decisions about your own body) Oh and there's the total disregard for the environment, which is now taking a worse (if thats possible) turn as the child health director of the EPA is being removed so polluters are more free to turn the US in to some sort of Russian hinterland where people "deal with"pollution and the resulting health costs. Not to mention... the whole Russian "thing" that's currently going on, and I'm not even going to get in to the healthcare farce the GOP has created and is trying to create. So the Republican party of old is a fairly decent crowd. This new incarnation... its disgusting. If there is a backlash, its coz theres no smoke without fire in this case right? Maybe some introspection about why it is so.. instead of being a snowflake and pretending you are persecuted might enlighten you.

I don't think anybody in the tech industry has the balls to come out as a Republican. The backlash would be awful. Thank God votes are secret, still.

by gassed 8y ago

I don't think anybody in the tech industry has the balls to come out as a Republican. The backlash would be awful. Thank God votes are secret, still.

collyw 8y ago

That's pretty scary when you think about it.

niij 8y ago

> in the tech industry In the liberal bubble that is the Bay area. There's tech industry outside of that bubble, throughout the Midwest, in cities like Austin. SF isn't the only place people are writing software.

scrollaway 8y ago

Speaking as a non-american: People don't want to come out as Republican because of how corrupt Republican representation has become. Republicans used to be respectable. There's still a few respectable figures in Congress and the Senate but even they have to follow the abhorrently partisanship, otherwise they aren't getting reelected. The republican base has turned on its head and has been massively radicalized. So if you "come out" as a republican, today, in this climate, then you're outright saying you agree with this radicalization. (Regardless of whether you do agree) I know a lot of republicans who don't agree with it and, right now, there isn't really a party for them. So they still call themselves republicans and either lie to themselves to deal with their choice (or ignore the bad news), or they fall into the constant propaganda. I've seen several end up converting to Democrats (or at least strongly consider it). Theory: I suspect the US, after all these decades, is finally correcting back towards a less right-shifted spectrum. As the current GOP moves to the extreme-right, non-extremists shift left and, if they end up democrats, there will probably be a split of the "Liberal" party and the "Democratic" party. This would mirror the more European models.

malvosenior 8y ago
Everything you said could also be said about the Democrats, except the safe to come out as a Democrat because they control all of the media, tech companies, and generally hold power in the West.
- jki275 8y ago
  They generally hold power in urban areas, not just the west. The rest of the country tends right. As you say, both parties are often corrupt, the reps tend to be the family values party so you actually hear about it when they have a problem in that area. It's expected in the democrat world and nobody cares, plus they own the media almost wholly so it's not really reported much.
- scrollaway 8y ago
  Even as you sit with an extreme-right president and near-state-sanctioned hard-right media, you claim that "Democrats are in control". And why exactly do you claim that? How is it relevant? I'm answering a completely different question, about "coming out" as republican.
  - malvosenior 8y ago
    > Even as you sit with an extreme-right president and near-state-sanctioned hard-right media, you claim that "Democrats are in control". The press and Trump are basically at war with one another. I can't see how you can claim they're both hard right. All the mainstream press (aside from Fox) endorsed Clinton.
    - scrollaway 8y ago
      Fox isn't just "any" media, it's state media. Your president watches it religiously and they have an immense influence over what he says. He has chosen to go to war with the press. To shut out reporters from the press corps. To viciously and regularly attack various media. You are slowly approaching a Russian-like regime where, if an outlet is not to the president's liking, it gets shut out entirely. It's blatant, and most republicans refuse to acknowledge it (all the while claiming they're pro free speech etc). Will you personally also be OK with that when it happens, since "well at least the democrats won't be in control anymore"? I'm scared for your country. Seeing the effect of propaganda after-the-fact in countries like Russia, North Korea, China, and many other dictatorships... it's one thing. Seeing it happen live, that's just out of this world for me.
sjg007 8y ago
I don't think republicans have ever been respectable except back when they were actually "democrats". In 1860 the democrats were largely racist southerns bent on states rights and the republicans were northerners who viewed the expansion of the Federal government as a good thing for social justice and the country. By 1930 the parties had effectively swapped names which the modern political reality reflects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_State...

sjg007 8y ago

I'm pretty sure there are a bunch of Randian republicans all across the tech industry.

koolba 8y ago

> I don't think anybody in the tech industry has the balls to come out as a Republican. The backlash would be awful. Indeed it's quite rare. Look at how the few Republican supporting tech leaders get crucified (ex: Thiel). Most people don't want do deal with that and even fewer have the financial resources to risk being blackballed. > Thank God votes are secret, still. Damn straight. Though it does make it awkward trying to explain the concept of a silent majority in the midst of raving leftists.

throwawaymanbot 8y ago

no one has any problems with Republicans. Its Republicans in a party that has openly allowed avowed Nazis. (Yes you read that right) to run as the GOP candidate. I think there were 12 at the last count? Not to mention the Hypocrisy of hammering on about freedom, (except if you are a woman and you are making decisions about your own body) Oh and there's the total disregard for the environment, which is now taking a worse (if thats possible) turn as the child health director of the EPA is being removed so polluters are more free to turn the US in to some sort of Russian hinterland where people "deal with"pollution and the resulting health costs. Not to mention... the whole Russian "thing" that's currently going on, and I'm not even going to get in to the healthcare farce the GOP has created and is trying to create. So the Republican party of old is a fairly decent crowd. This new incarnation... its disgusting. If there is a backlash, its coz theres no smoke without fire in this case right? Maybe some introspection about why it is so.. instead of being a snowflake and pretending you are persecuted might enlighten you.