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It is possible that it'll make some kind of realpolitik sense to stabilize the startup scene, but I sort of doubt it. During the housing crisis, the federal gov
by shadowgovt 4y ago
It is possible that it'll make some kind of realpolitik sense to stabilize the startup scene, but I sort of doubt it. During the housing crisis, the federal government bought up sufficient stock to stabilize American auto manufacturing not because they particularly cared about the jobs that would be lost or the ecosystem of supporting industries that would be damaged as a result of loss of major manufacturing, but because auto manufacturing is one of America's national security concerns... The factories and skill sets that create trucks can create APCs, jeeps, and tanks if a hot war breaks out.
I'm not exactly sure off the top of my head what the similar defense necessity story is for Silicon Valley.
- wpietri 4y agoAgreed. Especially for the bits of it that are at risk here, which are mainly small, unprofitable players.
- epvgwwqe 4y agoAre you for real? There is an AI arms race with China, for one. There is critical innovation across all segments happening in Silicon Valley, including defense.
- shadowgovt 4y agoThat would be a good argument for bailing out a Raytheon or a Microsoft, companies that have a record of success in delivering on complicated software technologies, but not the average Silicon Valley startup.
- epvgwwqe 4y agoYou can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. If the entire ecosystem is hurt it will affect the next Raytheon/Microsoft as well.