I didn't realize Garry was so crypto-y. Now as the President and CEO of YC where everyone constantly says "Make something people want", "Solve a real problem", I'm curious for him to chime in to the 'What's a real use-case for crypto?' debate.
>I didn't realize Garry was so crypto-y. Now as the President and CEO of YC where everyone constantly says "Make something people want", "Solve a real problem", I'm curious for him to chime in to the 'What's a real use-case for crypto?' debate.
That's why I think YC under Garry will pivot to something like: "Catch the next big thing" even if the next big thing is a scam and an environmental disaster.
I look forward to YC becoming full-time crypto shills and pump and dump scams.
In the main thread on Hacker News, you still haven't addressed any of the issues raised by developers on closing down the free tier. What alternatives did you consider? What stats? What about folks who have both free and paid dynos?
Also, please read all the feedback on the communication style in the blogpost.
I hate the corporate speak of 'Next Chapter', 'Public Roadmap' - just be direct and confident enough to say upfront that you are removing the free tier, instead of hiding it in the blog post. Come on, Bob!
If there was fair taxation on billionaires, and there was a wage growth where all the productivity gains didn't only stay at the top, then I think folks would be less incensed at billionaires.
You don't even need to discuss billionaires though to get some very bad effects. Take Denmark for example that taxes software engineers 50 percent of their salary (it's not unique to SWEs it's just because nearly all SWEs will make enough to fall into this bracket). I'm thoroughly examining other lower tax bracket countries to move to because why do I want to pay half of my salary until I am enfeebled and the state lets me enjoy my enfeeblement?
Let's macrosize the perspective: why do you think Unity moved HQ from DK to the USA? Could it be the crushing taxes here?
This is the issue. You really can't have it both ways. Yet many Americans love to fetishize a hatred for few very specific individuals without thinking through the whole causal chain that girds their economy.
Take Denmark for example that taxes software engineers 50 percent of their salary (it's not unique to SWEs it's just because nearly all SWEs will make enough to fall into this bracket). I'm thoroughly examining other lower tax bracket countries to move to because why do I want to pay half of my salary until I am enfeebled and the state lets me enjoy my enfeeblement?
Denmark consistently ranks in the top 5 of countries with the best quality of life. A year of parental leave, great social welfare, universal healthcare and retirement benefits, etc.
Including federal/state/local taxes, healthcare premiums, retirement contributions, disability insurance, etc, I pay close to 50% of my salary in the USA
And I'd still worry about how I'll pay the bills if I lost my job.
why do I want to pay half of my salary until I am enfeebled and the state lets me enjoy my enfeeblement?
Because that's how the state pays for the enfeebled today? Are you really suggesting you want to leave Denmark to go somewhere with lower tax rates, then when you need social healthcare, you'll move back to Denmark and take advantage of the healthcare system that you didn't pay for?
> Are you really suggesting you want to leave Denmark to go somewhere with lower tax rates, then when you need social healthcare, you'll move back to Denmark and take advantage of the healthcare system that you didn't pay for?
Isn’t that the point of their healthcare/retirement system? It’s socialist, not user pays. That it covers everyone irrespective of their tax contributions. Otherwise it would exclude the unemployed, students, disabled, low income (untaxed) people (esp housewife/househusbands) etc.
Isn’t that the point of their healthcare/retirement system
I don't think "Encourage people to move out of the country during the working years and move back to the country when they are old and need expensive healthcare coverage" is the point.
It may be the result of their system, but it's not the point. But if it became a problem, they could require that you buy back into the system after an extended absence out of the country.
> they could require that you buy back into the system after an extended absence out of the country.
And if you can’t buy back in? Won and lost your fortune overseas (or never won at all and remained poor all your life) and returned “home” destitute? What then?
Um, just a month ago, in the earnings call, he reiterated continuing to grow and invest. For those following the markets and economy closely (like any public company CEO should), literally nothing in the last month has been a much of a surprise. So, to go from, 'we're so totally gonna hire to' to 'pause' to 'cancel' to 'fire' in a month doesn't seem to inspire much confidence in them.
FWIW, Surojit the CPO has a long colorful history of being a horrible person to work with. Just in the last couple of months, I think Blind had atleast a few threads on him. Here are a couple I could find:
Known him since grad school. He's a little bully (literally and figuratively). He acts all tough, until you call him out, and then he'll change the subject.
The initial petition alleged problems at exec level. Brian's response confirmed it. And he wonders why the employees wouldn't bring this up internally..
Aside from the fact that his response is likely illegal according to California labor code, threatening to fire employee for discussing workplace conditions, it blows my mind how ignorant and illiterate he is when it comes to understanding power dynamics, and even the basic history of labor.
How do you go from being a startup founder to a public company CEO without deeply reflecting about workplaces, employee happiness, dysfunction, power dynamics and history of all of that?!
I'm not sure what feels more problematic, the framing of the initial thread or the last patch tweet which doesn't even acknowledge Kristen's claim and doesn't name them while trying to thank them. I was all giving him the benefit of the doubt but then the 12th tweet tanked that benefit of the doubt for me.
Feels pretty unethical to take credit for someone else's creative work..
