In his most recent New Yorker article, George Packer describes Silicon Valley’s biggest blind spot: namely, that its wealth and its youthful demographics has given way to a distinct political and social worldview that mimics libertarianism. He argues that the tech world’s aversion to government intrusion (and taxation) leaves the rest of us behind.
But however insulated the culture of Silicon Valley, the fast-paced greed of twenty-something, rich, white males, is not necessarily its only legacy. As Hamish McKenzie reports on PandoDaily, Silicon Valley can and does change the world for the better by inventing products that have the power to enrich our lives, an argument that Packer has since responded to.
The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!