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> All the clever, driven people are busy running startups. No. Don't fall into the "my profession is smarter than everyone else trap". There are very many very

> All the clever, driven people are busy running startups. No. Don't fall into the "my profession is smarter than everyone else trap". There are very many very smart people with something to contribute to governance who have no interest in running startups. I used to feel this way, and it's actually part of the problem. It makes it ok for techies to disengage, politically. We've had a case here in the Toronto mayoral election where I now wish that I'd done some organizing, instead of just voting. Voting is not enough when the issues really matter. Your opponents know this, and will use it against you. I would recommend following and getting involved in local politics. Yes, bureaucracy is frustrating, but you have to deal with that in business too. Not all companies are < 20 person shops. Don't disengage. Your opponents won't. UPDATE> We're used to hearing sermons on the importance of voting. The thing is -- your individual vote doesn't matter. What matters much more is how well you can organize others to vote in support of your goals.

NickPollard 16y ago
I did not say my profession is smarter than everyone else. I was merely using startups as a familiar example that was pitched towards the audience (of HN) as one of many things that people find more interesting than politics. Apologies if that was unclear. I'm sure there are a great many able-minded potential good politicians in many other sectors of business, as well as other areas like charity-work or the armed forces. The point is not 'which non-political area are they in', the point is 'they're in ANY non-political area'.
- arethuza 16y ago
  You are right about "career politicians" though - I have immense respect for the older generations of conviction politicians, you might not agree with them but at least you knew that they were basing their policies on some fundamental personal beliefs. These days UK politics looks more like an extended and expensive reality TV contest where people say/do anything to get into and maintain power purely for the sake of it.
  - eru 16y ago
    On the other hand that makes politicians focus on their customers (i.e. voters). Democracy can be viewed as an attempt to make career politicians listen to the demands of normal people.

NickPollard 16y ago

I did not say my profession is smarter than everyone else. I was merely using startups as a familiar example that was pitched towards the audience (of HN) as one of many things that people find more interesting than politics. Apologies if that was unclear. I'm sure there are a great many able-minded potential good politicians in many other sectors of business, as well as other areas like charity-work or the armed forces. The point is not 'which non-political area are they in', the point is 'they're in ANY non-political area'.

arethuza 16y ago
You are right about "career politicians" though - I have immense respect for the older generations of conviction politicians, you might not agree with them but at least you knew that they were basing their policies on some fundamental personal beliefs. These days UK politics looks more like an extended and expensive reality TV contest where people say/do anything to get into and maintain power purely for the sake of it.
- eru 16y ago
  On the other hand that makes politicians focus on their customers (i.e. voters). Democracy can be viewed as an attempt to make career politicians listen to the demands of normal people.