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Eric Schmidt: Semiconductor Dependency Imperils American Security

36 points by dcgudeman 4y ago

hunglee2 4y ago
every country's security is imperilled by semiconductor dependency
- hourago 4y ago
  Except for Taiwan. The semiconductor dependency gives them security, because they are the ones depended on.
Proven 4y ago
2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
tl;dr - S. 1260 Endless Frontier Act: "Appropriate $54 billion for the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to implement programs to strengthen domestic industries that produce semiconductors, microchips, and telecommunication equipment" Zoinks! I suppose it's a good way to spend money toward national security and job creation that doesn't go directly into a defense megacorp pocket.
- gumby 4y ago
  > I suppose it's a good way to spend money toward national security and job creation that doesn't go directly into a defense megacorp pocket. I invite you to look up the term "prime contractor". Even outside the DoD, most contracts to small and midsize entities go through one of the major defense contractors like Lockheed or CSC. Big companies like Intel and Google have Government divisions with things like segregated balance sheets and all the requisite tracking etc that the government requires. But small and medium companies can't really afford to do all that, unless it's 100% of their business and often not then.
countvonbalzac 4y ago
Is there any guarantee that this isn't just a giveaway to billionaires masquerading as national security?
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
  It's probably both. It's called a win-win. As annoyed as I am that Intel and the US semiconductor industry outsourced, off-shored, and declined, letting it get worse hurts everybody.
scotuswroteus 4y ago
Literally anytime I see Eric Schmidt, I think hmm how is he setting up some weird corporate transaction that's going to harm the country's wellbeing long term?
- vkou 4y ago
  It's a healthy response to nearly every captain of industry speaking out in public.
- credit_guy 4y ago
  I have the opposite reflex. Not with Eric Schmidt, with everyone. It's called "benefit of the doubt". Sometimes it goes by the name "presumption of innocence".
theknocker 4y ago

36 points by dcgudeman 4y ago

hunglee2 4y ago

every country's security is imperilled by semiconductor dependency

hourago 4y ago
Except for Taiwan. The semiconductor dependency gives them security, because they are the ones depended on.

Proven 4y ago

2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago

tl;dr - S. 1260 Endless Frontier Act: "Appropriate $54 billion for the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to implement programs to strengthen domestic industries that produce semiconductors, microchips, and telecommunication equipment" Zoinks! I suppose it's a good way to spend money toward national security and job creation that doesn't go directly into a defense megacorp pocket.

gumby 4y ago
> I suppose it's a good way to spend money toward national security and job creation that doesn't go directly into a defense megacorp pocket. I invite you to look up the term "prime contractor". Even outside the DoD, most contracts to small and midsize entities go through one of the major defense contractors like Lockheed or CSC. Big companies like Intel and Google have Government divisions with things like segregated balance sheets and all the requisite tracking etc that the government requires. But small and medium companies can't really afford to do all that, unless it's 100% of their business and often not then.

countvonbalzac 4y ago

Is there any guarantee that this isn't just a giveaway to billionaires masquerading as national security?

2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
It's probably both. It's called a win-win. As annoyed as I am that Intel and the US semiconductor industry outsourced, off-shored, and declined, letting it get worse hurts everybody.

scotuswroteus 4y ago

Literally anytime I see Eric Schmidt, I think hmm how is he setting up some weird corporate transaction that's going to harm the country's wellbeing long term?

vkou 4y ago
It's a healthy response to nearly every captain of industry speaking out in public.
credit_guy 4y ago
I have the opposite reflex. Not with Eric Schmidt, with everyone. It's called "benefit of the doubt". Sometimes it goes by the name "presumption of innocence".

theknocker 4y ago