Thanks for the post. I think the role of capitalism is unavoidable - particularly since many of the left-leaning technologists are striking it out as consultants or members of small tech coops. While I'm salaried now, I spent 6 years as a broke tech consultant who had to make daily decisions on how to run my business. The adage "Nobody ever got fired for choosing IBM" applies more then ever now. When you go out on a limb with a more politically forwarding thinking technology and it fails, you are done. If the Google or Amazon or Salesforce or whatever corporate technology fails, everyone without question just shrugs - nobody blames you. If we weren't living in such a cut throat economic times (especially in the US, where health insurance makes being a consultant really dicey), it would be easier to live your priniciples. But, the economic mess we are all in forces us to recognize our privilege and, on an optimistic note, give us an opportunity to make a real sacrifce for what we believe in.
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Jamie 5 years ago
Thanks for the post. I think the role of capitalism is unavoidable - particularly since many of the left-leaning technologists are striking it out as consultants or members of small tech coops. While I'm salaried now, I spent 6 years as a broke tech consultant who had to make daily decisions on how to run my business. The adage "Nobody ever got fired for choosing IBM" applies more then ever now. When you go out on a limb with a more politically forwarding thinking technology and it fails, you are done. If the Google or Amazon or Salesforce or whatever corporate technology fails, everyone without question just shrugs - nobody blames you. If we weren't living in such a cut throat economic times (especially in the US, where health insurance makes being a consultant really dicey), it would be easier to live your priniciples. But, the economic mess we are all in forces us to recognize our privilege and, on an optimistic note, give us an opportunity to make a real sacrifce for what we believe in.
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