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But it also seems that the US produces new big tech companies in new sectors whereas Europe appears not to. Sure maybe there aren’t any viable Google or Faceboo

But it also seems that the US produces new big tech companies in new sectors whereas Europe appears not to. Sure maybe there aren’t any viable Google or Facebook competitors, but the US produces Stripe, Airbnb, uber, etc.

JeremyBanks 7y ago
Those examples seem to highlight America's weaknesses, not strength. Uber and Airbnb are both mostly-criminal enterprises that could only succeed at the level they did because of corrupt or impotent law enforcement and legislators, and Stripe's success is facilitated by the inaccessible mess of America's underlying banking system.
- askafriend 7y ago
  I'm sorry but Taxis were a criminally poor, inefficient, and dangerous product before Uber came along. I'd like to see you argue in favor of Taxis, because there really aren't many good arguments or excuses for how they operated and really just squandered their own opportunity. Uber is better on literally every single dimension. Stripe is an international company that's facilitated by the internet.
  - JeremyBanks 7y ago
    Yes, America's existing taxi system was also awful. The fact that the only way to improve upon the situation required a series of criminal conspiracies and attempts to obstruct justice that were never properly punished reflects very poorly on the country.
    - askafriend 7y ago
      You're aware of the Taxi lobby and borderline criminal interests and practices surrounding Taxi medallions right? Not to mention that if you were black or lived in under-resourced areas, good luck getting a Taxi to stop for you or go where you need to go. > The fact that the only way to improve upon the situation required a series of criminal conspiracies and attempts to obstruct justice that were never properly punished reflects very poorly on the country. Isn't this an ironic statement given the actual history of how America was founded?
      - JeremyBanks 7y ago
        > You're aware of the Taxi lobby and borderline criminal interests and practices surrounding Taxi medallions right? > Yes, America's existing taxi system was also awful.
    - arkades 7y ago
      NYC taxis are incomparably better to most European city taxis. It’s not in NYC that I came to appreciate Uber.

JeremyBanks 7y ago

Those examples seem to highlight America's weaknesses, not strength. Uber and Airbnb are both mostly-criminal enterprises that could only succeed at the level they did because of corrupt or impotent law enforcement and legislators, and Stripe's success is facilitated by the inaccessible mess of America's underlying banking system.

askafriend 7y ago
I'm sorry but Taxis were a criminally poor, inefficient, and dangerous product before Uber came along. I'd like to see you argue in favor of Taxis, because there really aren't many good arguments or excuses for how they operated and really just squandered their own opportunity. Uber is better on literally every single dimension. Stripe is an international company that's facilitated by the internet.
- JeremyBanks 7y ago
  Yes, America's existing taxi system was also awful. The fact that the only way to improve upon the situation required a series of criminal conspiracies and attempts to obstruct justice that were never properly punished reflects very poorly on the country.
  - askafriend 7y ago
    You're aware of the Taxi lobby and borderline criminal interests and practices surrounding Taxi medallions right? Not to mention that if you were black or lived in under-resourced areas, good luck getting a Taxi to stop for you or go where you need to go. > The fact that the only way to improve upon the situation required a series of criminal conspiracies and attempts to obstruct justice that were never properly punished reflects very poorly on the country. Isn't this an ironic statement given the actual history of how America was founded?
    - JeremyBanks 7y ago
      > You're aware of the Taxi lobby and borderline criminal interests and practices surrounding Taxi medallions right? > Yes, America's existing taxi system was also awful.
  - arkades 7y ago
    NYC taxis are incomparably better to most European city taxis. It’s not in NYC that I came to appreciate Uber.