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An unfortunate title seems to be redirecting what could be a productive discussion about stuff that's relevant to HN users: Increasing barriers to entry for st

An unfortunate title seems to be redirecting what could be a productive discussion about stuff that's relevant to HN users: Increasing barriers to entry for startups due to increased concentrations of cash/power stifling competition and innovation. What changes in incentives improve the ability of startups to survive and thrive in an environment dominated by a few, cash-rich and competition-hating mega-corps?

superbcarrot 6y ago
HN is about a lot more than just startups.
- nobody9999 6y ago
  >HN is about a lot more than just startups. Of course it is. I just thought I'd point up (given the title of the referenced article doesn't provide any real context) the startup angle as a direction for discussion. No one needs to take that up, of course. But as the submitter I thought it worthwhile to mention.
afarrell 6y ago
Honestly, this is the biggest reason I want UBI. I want it to be easier to operate a profitable food truck in Flint, Michigan so that it is easier to find a job building software that solves food safety problems for folks in places like Flint, Michigan. Currently, there is not enough anticipated revenue from doing that. Poorer people get fewer votes on which problems (like being hungry for lunch) and metaproblems (like running a food truck) get solved by the free market. UBI also would make more centrally-decided solutions like education easier to provide. Kids learn better when they have less-stressed parents and aunts who run local businesses.
- kmos17 6y ago
  Universal health care/medicare for all would in my opinion be the most impactful help small businesses and startups could get. So many people stuck in jobs just because they can’t risk losing health coverage.
  - gremlinsinc 6y ago
    I think we can have both. But let's end income tax, and move to a single land-value tax to cover everything.
    - afarrell 6y ago
      Let's do at most two things at a time so that we do them well.

superbcarrot 6y ago

HN is about a lot more than just startups.

nobody9999 6y ago
>HN is about a lot more than just startups. Of course it is. I just thought I'd point up (given the title of the referenced article doesn't provide any real context) the startup angle as a direction for discussion. No one needs to take that up, of course. But as the submitter I thought it worthwhile to mention.

afarrell 6y ago

Honestly, this is the biggest reason I want UBI. I want it to be easier to operate a profitable food truck in Flint, Michigan so that it is easier to find a job building software that solves food safety problems for folks in places like Flint, Michigan. Currently, there is not enough anticipated revenue from doing that. Poorer people get fewer votes on which problems (like being hungry for lunch) and metaproblems (like running a food truck) get solved by the free market. UBI also would make more centrally-decided solutions like education easier to provide. Kids learn better when they have less-stressed parents and aunts who run local businesses.

kmos17 6y ago
Universal health care/medicare for all would in my opinion be the most impactful help small businesses and startups could get. So many people stuck in jobs just because they can’t risk losing health coverage.
- gremlinsinc 6y ago
  I think we can have both. But let's end income tax, and move to a single land-value tax to cover everything.
  - afarrell 6y ago
    Let's do at most two things at a time so that we do them well.