Founder here. Just now seeing this made it to HN yesterday.
Yes, you're right: it's political. The whole thing is deeply political. I worked in tech in SF from 2010–2020 and one of the big mistakes of the era, IMO, was pretending that certain topics weren't political. Or that they were no longer political because of "progress."
In 2020 my wife and I moved to rural Appalachia, where her parents live, because they were excited to help with childcare. Without getting into the pros and cons of city vs. rural living, or blue vs. red culture, I can confidently report that many (most?) topics tech people consider non-political are all people here want to talk about——because here those topics are considered THE MOST IMPORTANT political questions of our times.
I don't think I'm saying anything you don't know. I guess I'll just reiterate: you're right, it's political. And I'll add: As it's always been.
FWIW, my hope with New Athens is to strike a new balance that's wild enough to cause hard-core partisans to pause and think, get everyone thinking from first principals again about big issues that got stuck in the culture war trap, and, at the very least, be transparent about what we're doing so that people can self-select in or out in good faith.
I'm glad you're overt about this. And, my opposition here is not because of any issues with delivery of welfare by faith based organisations, the days of juice church to get the bums lunch is long gone. My concern is the ability of the state welfare budget to be cut because statutory rights to aide are replaced by voluntarism and discretionary spend which can be withdrawn at will.
The fight for the welfare state was a long battle in the UK, across the depression and war. Thatcher would have unwound it even more if it hadn't been electoral suicide and the same is true in the US, albeit diluted.
I'm not trying to convince you of anything here, really I'm just pleased this is overt and conscious.
Yes, you're right: it's political. The whole thing is deeply political. I worked in tech in SF from 2010–2020 and one of the big mistakes of the era, IMO, was pretending that certain topics weren't political. Or that they were no longer political because of "progress."
In 2020 my wife and I moved to rural Appalachia, where her parents live, because they were excited to help with childcare. Without getting into the pros and cons of city vs. rural living, or blue vs. red culture, I can confidently report that many (most?) topics tech people consider non-political are all people here want to talk about——because here those topics are considered THE MOST IMPORTANT political questions of our times.
I don't think I'm saying anything you don't know. I guess I'll just reiterate: you're right, it's political. And I'll add: As it's always been.
FWIW, my hope with New Athens is to strike a new balance that's wild enough to cause hard-core partisans to pause and think, get everyone thinking from first principals again about big issues that got stuck in the culture war trap, and, at the very least, be transparent about what we're doing so that people can self-select in or out in good faith.