5 ms·

Does Washington want a strong tech industry? Our own Senator Feinstein regularly votes against the interests of Silicon Valley. I see a Washington with lots o

by andyl 13y ago

Does Washington want a strong tech industry? Our own Senator Feinstein regularly votes against the interests of Silicon Valley. I see a Washington with lots of enthusiasm for Military and Oil/Gas, but not much for Technology.

moocowduckquack 13y ago
Military and Oil/Gas combined has a bigger tech industry than Silicon Valley.
- mkramlich 13y ago
  it's also one of the Old Big Money sectors. along with Banking/WallStreet. other tech, speaking in obviously broad strokes, is newer/younger money.
  - moocowduckquack 13y ago
    True, I was just pointing out that not supporting silicon valley is not a sign of being against technology, so much as being suspicious of one area of it. Silicon valley aligns itself with a lot more than just technology and I suspect it is other factors than the engineering that the politicians are lukewarm to. From their point of view, a bunch of hippies have just managed to blow the doors off the restrictions on access to presses and other forms of mass influence. I suspect that that is the bit that annoys them.
lallysingh 13y ago
Those industries have lobbied a long time, and have been close with people who've built seniority now. It'll take a while for Tech to do that.
davidw 13y ago
> Our own Senator Feinstein regularly votes against the interests of Silicon Valley So when are you (plural you) going to put your money and your time where your mouths are and find someone to challenge her, including in the primaries?
- smokeyj 13y ago
  Why should we have to outspend established industries just to have our voices heard? That sounds like a rigged game and a loosing battle to me. If any energy is to be spend addressing the issue it should be to route around these parasites, not greasing their wheels for adding no value to society.
  - davidw 13y ago
    > Why should we have to outspend established industries just to have our voices heard? The world is not perfect or fair, sorry. But you do have a chance to work to fix things.
    - CamperBob2 13y ago
      Also, if the Mafia threatens to burn down your business, the proper response is not to call the police or pay the protection money, but to join the Mafia and reform the system from within. Right? Seriously -- it's too late for that. These so-called "security" agencies and their sponsors in Congress have already ignored dozens of laws going all the way back to 1776. What's another law going to accomplish? Is yet another Church Committee the answer? If so, how do you anticipate the outcome will be different this time?
      - davidw 13y ago
        Oh, well if you put it that way, I guess bitching on Hacker News is definitely the best option.
        CamperBob2 13y ago
        I guess answering my question is too much trouble, huh. For the record, in case you missed it, it was, "How do you expect the (legislative) outcome to be different this time?" Edit: here's another question, seeing as you're in Italy. What do you think will happen when the power of the NSA ends up in the hands of a politician like Berlusconi?

by andyl 13y ago

moocowduckquack 13y ago

Military and Oil/Gas combined has a bigger tech industry than Silicon Valley.

mkramlich 13y ago
it's also one of the Old Big Money sectors. along with Banking/WallStreet. other tech, speaking in obviously broad strokes, is newer/younger money.
- moocowduckquack 13y ago
  True, I was just pointing out that not supporting silicon valley is not a sign of being against technology, so much as being suspicious of one area of it. Silicon valley aligns itself with a lot more than just technology and I suspect it is other factors than the engineering that the politicians are lukewarm to. From their point of view, a bunch of hippies have just managed to blow the doors off the restrictions on access to presses and other forms of mass influence. I suspect that that is the bit that annoys them.

lallysingh 13y ago

Those industries have lobbied a long time, and have been close with people who've built seniority now. It'll take a while for Tech to do that.

davidw 13y ago

> Our own Senator Feinstein regularly votes against the interests of Silicon Valley So when are you (plural you) going to put your money and your time where your mouths are and find someone to challenge her, including in the primaries?

smokeyj 13y ago
Why should we have to outspend established industries just to have our voices heard? That sounds like a rigged game and a loosing battle to me. If any energy is to be spend addressing the issue it should be to route around these parasites, not greasing their wheels for adding no value to society.
- davidw 13y ago
  > Why should we have to outspend established industries just to have our voices heard? The world is not perfect or fair, sorry. But you do have a chance to work to fix things.
  - CamperBob2 13y ago
    Also, if the Mafia threatens to burn down your business, the proper response is not to call the police or pay the protection money, but to join the Mafia and reform the system from within. Right? Seriously -- it's too late for that. These so-called "security" agencies and their sponsors in Congress have already ignored dozens of laws going all the way back to 1776. What's another law going to accomplish? Is yet another Church Committee the answer? If so, how do you anticipate the outcome will be different this time?
    - davidw 13y ago
      Oh, well if you put it that way, I guess bitching on Hacker News is definitely the best option.
      - CamperBob2 13y ago
        I guess answering my question is too much trouble, huh. For the record, in case you missed it, it was, "How do you expect the (legislative) outcome to be different this time?" Edit: here's another question, seeing as you're in Italy. What do you think will happen when the power of the NSA ends up in the hands of a politician like Berlusconi?