> In the US we are almost to the point where liberals and conservatives cannot even have a discussion because they have no shared context. I don't think that's

> In the US we are almost to the point where liberals and conservatives cannot even have a discussion because they have no shared context. I don't think that's because of tech. I'm still optimistic about tech and the internet; I think the split society that we seem to have arrived at has other causes. The internet and cheap computers made it possible for kids to invent cool stuff in their bedrooms, without having to invest in expensive manufacturing machinery or employing people. That's still possible; CPUs, memory and storage are cheaper and more faster than ever, and 3D printers have democratized the prototyping of physical objects. I think the problem that hit tech was big money. Nowadays, if you invent something cool, one of two things will happen: either you'll get a cash offer so generous you can retire at 25, or you'll get hit with a meritless lawsuit that it's pointless to defend, because your adversary is backed by megabucks, and can litigate until you're bankrupt.