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> being sucked off by shareholders and execs without adequately compensating the people who built it

Who built it?

Certainly not the (passive) shareholders.

Without the passive DARPA funding in the beginning, Google would not exist.

I doubt DARPA were passive. But how much of google do they now own? Or should that be 'we' if you're a US citizen.

In any case 'investment' doesn't build anything, it just an enabler for others to build. Just like betting on a race horse is not the same as actually riding around the track and passing the finish line.

Passive shareholders bought the shares at IPO. IPOs are the reason why we have these large public companies. Passive shareholders deserve the profits.

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