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On the contrary, it's better to do something as in a startup, than to complain about public policy. When your system is broken, try to fix it, when that fails,
by eloff 7y ago
On the contrary, it's better to do something as in a startup, than to complain about public policy. When your system is broken, try to fix it, when that fails, workaround it.
- NikolaNovak 7y agoBut... it's an extremely specific viewpoint that Startup / Technology solution is the way to fix broken system. For vast majority of people, the viewpoint would be that elected leaders making the "correct" decisions/rules (whatever we decide those are) is the actual long-term, proper fix. Technology is technology, it's a tool; and societal norms, rules, and regulations guide or decide how we use those tools.
- eloff 7y agoIn a perfect world sure. But doing nothing while waiting for a perfect world is far worse than fixing the problem at the wrong level.
- Ar-Curunir 7y agoStartups, and specifically VC culture, do not have aligned incentives with fixing society; in the end, their aim is to make money, not improve society.
- eloff 7y agoYes. But most every company makes the world a better place in a way. People pay less for products and services than they get in value - otherwise they wouldn't pay. So everyone ends up better off. There are things like negative externalities that complicate the picture. In the specific case of uber, people benefit hugely from the service over the old way of how taxis worked (I know, I live in a place where ride sharing is illegal.) Uber's drivers can be thought of as exploited, but they're all there willingly, so I don't buy that for the most part. I've met so many drivers doing it parttime, entrepreneurs, students, retirees. They're better off for having options in general. Nobody is putting a gun to their heads.