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posted by janrinok on Friday March 30 2018, @11:20PM   Printer-friendly
from the with-the-exception-of-Amazon dept.

Silicon Valley Warms to Trump After a Chilly Start

Two days after Donald J. Trump won the 2016 election, executives at Google consoled their employees in an all-staff meeting broadcast around the world.

"There is a lot of fear within Google," said Sundar Pichai, the company's chief executive, according to a video of the meeting viewed by The New York Times. When asked by an employee if there was any silver lining to Mr. Trump's election, the Google co-founder Sergey Brin said, "Boy, that's a really tough one right now." Ruth Porat, the finance chief, said Mr. Trump's victory felt "like a ton of bricks dropped on my chest." Then she instructed members of the audience to hug the person next to them.

Sixteen months later, Google's parent company, Alphabet, has most likely saved billions of dollars in taxes on its overseas cash under a new tax law signed by Mr. Trump. Alphabet also stands to benefit from the Trump administration's looser regulations for self-driving cars and delivery drones, as well as from proposed changes to the trade pact with Mexico and Canada that would limit Google's liability for user content on its sites.

Once one of Mr. Trump's most vocal opponents, Silicon Valley's technology industry has increasingly found common ground with the White House. When Mr. Trump was elected, tech executives were largely up in arms over a leader who espoused policies on immigration and other issues that were antithetical to their companies' values. Now, many of the industry's executives are growing more comfortable with the president and how his economic agenda furthers their business interests, even as many of their employees continue to disagree with Mr. Trump on social issues.

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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @11:24PM (17 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @11:24PM (#660604)

    Do you think there will be any introspection?

    I don't.

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  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday March 30 2018, @11:39PM

    by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Friday March 30 2018, @11:39PM (#660611) Homepage

    They went all-in on Hillary and lost, but being Jews they will go where the money is while telling you that they are human and capable of learning from their mistakes.

    Jeff Bezos is not a Jew, and with his Washington post he is not only politically reckless but being stupid with his monies. Now with his Washington Post, he has few choices and all of them make him look stupid. Bezos' best option with respect to the Post would be to softly let them go neutral or at least tone down the partisanship a bit so they look a bit more objective. But he could sell it off, or let it die, whatever. They've been a neocon mouthpiece for decades anyway, Lally Weymouth should have been a dead giveaway, and of course we all know them for once hiring a guy named Rob Malda.

    To remove himself from Trump's shit-list, Bezos should increase his partnerships with existing mom-and-pop businesses just like with booksellers back in the day. He will lose some Jew-golds, but he will with his wealth help Make America Great Again. Now, he doesn't have to give up his slave-driving warehouses. He could start giving those workers reasonable hours and paying them more. Or he could move them to Mexico and pay them reasonable wages and give them reasonable working conditions so they stop hopping our borders and trying to have anchor-babies.

    Along with Bezos, I tried to look up Larry Ellison as a similar example, but the Wikipedia page indicated that his biological mother was Jewish as was his adopted family. That explains a lot about why he was conspicuously silent during the American political process of recent years. The Wikipedia revealed that his biological father was absent, and if you were faced with the prospect of being stuck with a Jewish woman, you'd be as well. That also explains why Larry is at once an alpha male and a dickhead.

  • (Score: 4, Informative) by bob_super on Friday March 30 2018, @11:47PM (15 children)

    by bob_super (1357) on Friday March 30 2018, @11:47PM (#660616)

    > Why were these smart people SO wrong?
    [citation needed]

    Everyone likes a tax cut, and anyone powerful has to tone down the rethoric when dealing with a hostile and vengeful bully.
    That doesn't change how most of the policies of the administration are short-sighted and extremely dangerous: "Hey, let's up the deficit to a Trillion dollars per year, before getting into a trade war with the people financing the deficit by buying Treasury Bonds"

    • (Score: 2, Funny) by milsorgen on Friday March 30 2018, @11:55PM (5 children)

      by milsorgen (6225) on Friday March 30 2018, @11:55PM (#660622)

      I hope someday you grow out if being an adult child and learn to open your eyes to the reality of the situation. My advice? Lay off the corporate media and look around and discover what the real issues we face are. Hint: it's not muh short sighted bully.

      --
      On the Oregon Coast, born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days...
      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:06AM (4 children)

        by bob_super (1357) on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:06AM (#660627)

        Go ahead. Tell me about The Real Issues.
        No hints. Facts.

        • (Score: 4, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:44AM (3 children)

          by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:44AM (#660637) Homepage

          "Mexican" salsas here in America aren't very hot. That is a very bad issue in the United States. We can blame Silicon Valley and their cultural appropriation for burritos wrapped in cold and flaccid flour tortillas and salsas that pack the Scolville heat of Heinz ketchup (The "Chipotle" effect). Some Mexicans are good, they know how to make hot salsas.

          • (Score: 3, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:10AM (2 children)

            by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:10AM (#660667) Homepage Journal

            Flour tortillas were invented in the US by formerly Mexican people after they lost the Mexican-American War.

            It wasn't enough that the Yanquis slaughtered so many without the slightest pretense of provocation, they had to add insult to injury by doing away with corn crops and replacing them with wheat, which the formerly Mexican people did not know how to eat.

            Japan had the same problem with wheat after it lost World War II, but a really cool frood invented Ramen.

            --
            Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
            • (Score: 2, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:29AM

              by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:29AM (#660679) Homepage

              Flour tortillas were not utilized by a people who knew how to slap them onto a gas grill, or even an electric one for a few delicious minutes, to serve them to the Gringo rubes or feed their own Gringos. The ones who knew how to slap them onto a gas or electric grill already knew how to cook real tacos and burritos, the ones who didn't moved to San Jose and worked for Google and started a food company called Chipotle, then moved their tribe back downward to Irvine. The latter were working for Aztlan to poison the Gringos.

               

            • (Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday March 31 2018, @03:40AM

              by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 31 2018, @03:40AM (#660706) Journal

              It wasn't enough that the Yanquis slaughtered so many without the slightest pretense of provocation, they had to add insult to injury by doing away with corn crops and replacing them with wheat, which the formerly Mexican people did not know how to eat.

              Looks like they learned fast then. Plus, Mexico grows its own wheat which was introduced [gramene.org] way before Yanquis were involved.

              Wheat was introduced in Mexico by the Spaniards around 1520

              I don't buy that wheat tortillas were invented centuries later because of the merely presence of the devilish Yanquis.

              Japan had the same problem with wheat after it lost World War II, but a really cool frood invented Ramen.

              The US didn't replace Japan's rice crops with wheat. Japan was almost completely depleted, food-wise, due to the destruction of the war. Instead, the wheat and whatnot was what the US had to give. did the Navajo [whatscookingamerica.net].

              This disastrous attempt at peace led to the Long Walks. In September 1863, Kit Carson (1809-1868) was dispatched into Navajo land to retrieve a surrender. When no Navajo came to meet with him, he ordered the burning of the land. Attempts were made to starve out the Navajo and many were captured and taken to Bosque Redondo near Fort Sumner. Hundreds starved on the 300 mile walk and more would die later in the crowded and disparaging conditions . Navajo were placed with the Mescalero Apache where home peace was often not the case. The camps were meant for 4,000 to 5,000 people, yet there were now over 9,000 people, and supplies were meager.

              The government supplies of lard, flour, salt, sugar, baking powder or yeast, and powdered milk were often rancid. Fry bread came from these few foods provided during the 4 years of captivity. Since that time, it has become common food at most all PowWows of numerous tribes

              The US version of "May you live in interesting times" is "May your food come from a quartermaster."

    • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:06AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:06AM (#660626)

      By far, the most important consideration for long-term thinking is to deal with immigration. People from the Third World don't magically change their behavior when they set foot on First World soil. They instead infect their new land with all the awful things you find in the Third World.

      This change is permanent. Particularly troublesome is the violent pedophile religion, from which people seldom convert. Exponential growth takes over, and the nice Western civilization is replaced with something resembling that of Pakistan, Yeman, Somalia, etc.

      Many immigrants, particularly from the south, are fond of socialism. We now have a decent portion of our population thinking that they want socialism. They fail to see the connection to Venezuela, where roving gangs of kids are murdering each other in territorial fights to control access to garbage dumpsters behind the best restaurants.

      The primary test for political thinking being long-term or short-term is thus immigration. If you would allow us to be conquered without a fight, your thinking is short-term.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:18AM (7 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:18AM (#660630)

      Everyone likes a tax cut, and anyone powerful has to tone down the rethoric when dealing with a hostile and vengeful bully.

      Is this why they supported Clinton?

      That doesn't change how most of the policies of the administration are short-sighted and extremely dangerous: "Hey, let's up the deficit to a Trillion dollars per year, before getting into a trade war with the people financing the deficit by buying Treasury Bonds"

      The current administration has no option. If you look at what Trump is doing, he is getting the economy moving. A government doesn't announce investment in infrastructure during boom times, they do that during recession. So Trump knows what he's doing, he realises that bringing wealth creation back to the US will have a cost and has covered himself.

      The Petro-Yuan will crash and China has reached its practical and economical limits with regard to growth. Global growth has been at 1% while growth in China and developing economies have grown around 10% PA. This has been nothing but a wealth transfer and Trump (I'm not a fan) at least sees this needs to be reversed. Not only has he identified the problem, he's taken all the necessary steps to fix it. On a personal level you can hate him all you like, on a political level you have to understand the policies before you criticise them.

      • (Score: 4, Informative) by bob_super on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:47AM (5 children)

        by bob_super (1357) on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:47AM (#660639)

        > Is this why they supported Clinton?

        Everybody supports either the winner, or both sides when the winner is not clear. That's pragmatic.
        Silicon Valley is more likely to support the dems, especially against a Trump, but pay attention and you'll notice how many hedged their bet just in case.

        > The current administration has no option. If you look at what Trump is doing, he is getting the economy moving.
        > A government doesn't announce investment in infrastructure during boom times, they do that during recession.

        Feel free to google the US economic growth. The US economy grew pretty well under Obama, so the tax cut is pro-cyclical, making it dangerous, especially since there is clearly a tech bubble. You are supposed to pay your debts during the good times (so you can get back in debt at the next recession).
        Unemployment was nearing record lows before Trump stepped into the white house. Now, a lot of those jobs are less good jobs than before W's Great Recession, unquestionably, with partial employment up, and stagnating wages this century. But the US economy was doing fine, and the deficit hawks should have been delighted that it was time to reduce the debt. Instead, we get another W-style cut at the worst time.

        > So Trump knows what he's doing, he realises that bringing wealth creation back to the US will have a cost and has covered himself.

        Wait, did you understand my sentence you quoted?

        > This has been nothing but a wealth transfer

        Wealth transfer to China and to the richest Americans, true, at the expense of the middle and lower class.
        The new tax cut adds to the wealth transfer to the upper class, while the tariffs will hit the lower and middle class, just as inflation is starting to kick up (still under the 2% target, but under pressure).
        Bringing high-profile manufacturing back to the US is good, but automation means not too many jobs come back (less than were lost, otherwise the factories wouldn't come back). The US should be investing massively in education, because millions of low-paying jobs are threatened with near-term extinction regardless of what happens in DC. Instead, the pentagon gets a giant raise (which does drive a few immediate good jobs, but lots of upper-class pocket stuffing).

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @01:06AM (3 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 31 2018, @01:06AM (#660644)

          Wealth transfer to China and to the richest Americans, true, at the expense of the middle and lower class.

          Exactly and who would buy product if it had continued?

          The new tax cut adds to the wealth transfer to the upper class, while the tariffs will hit the lower and middle class

          How is this any kind of economic assessment and would the specific tariffs matter if it was? How could the US defend itself against military aggression if China controlled the metal supply?

          Bringing high-profile manufacturing back to the US is good, but automation means not too many jobs come back (less than were lost, otherwise the factories wouldn't come back).

          Automation has no impact on GDP, [mit.edu] immigration did [nationalacademies.org] but no longer will for reasons we already addressed.

          The US should be investing massively in education, because millions of low-paying jobs are threatened with near-term extinction

          In hard science, not social science like "gender studies". The cancer needs treating, starve it of public funds!

          • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:23AM (2 children)

            by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:23AM (#660675) Homepage Journal

            China controls the rare earth element supply.

            There are just two rare earth mines on the entire planet: one in China and one in the US. The US one is able to operate only when rare earth prices are high enough.

            --
            Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
            • (Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday March 31 2018, @07:31PM (1 child)

              by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 31 2018, @07:31PM (#660927) Journal

              one in China

              According to this [globalsecurity.org], there were somewhere around 9 active mines in China, plus whatever illegal mining goes on over there.

              • (Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday March 31 2018, @08:09PM

                by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 31 2018, @08:09PM (#660934) Journal
                Actually to be more accurate, 9 mining companies. There are probably more active mines than companies.
        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:21AM

          by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:21AM (#660673) Homepage Journal

          My friend Morris has a Molecular Biology PhD and has worked two postdoc positions but can't get so much as another postdoc because there are just too damn many PhDs.

          Instead he now teaches high school chemistry.

          The recent emphasis on STEM education caused a serious problem: there is a shortage of qualified applicants for skilled trade jobs.

          Despite that I attended Caltech and UCSC for college, in eighth grade I took wood and metal shop. My high school had a really excellent auto shop - students could bring their cars to school to get fixed while they were in class.

          We need more shop classes and fewer STEM classes.

          --
          Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:16AM

        by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Saturday March 31 2018, @02:16AM (#660670) Homepage Journal

        Who is investing?

        Trump's plan is to give America's infrastructure to private businesses so they can charge us all to pay tolls on roads and bridges that were built by public financing. I can't see any good coming from that. Will there by any well-enforced requirement that all the deferred maintainence is actually performed?

        I readily agree that we need to fix our infrastructure. If you're going to increase the deficit by a trillion samoleons, do it by fixing our bridges not by giving tax cuts to all your homies because they like to give you reacharounds.

        --
        Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]