Which is most of us. I'm paid well, and I feel fortunate for the privilege. But even my bills (healthcare, housing, etc.) are bonkers lately, and I live in a sleepy suburb. My health insurance will be much worse next year, and I probably need surgery, so that'll be nice and expensive. Meanwhile, we blew billions on an acquisition and laid off a lot of good senior talent. My colleagues and my friends.

I don't think people here truly understand how much people are struggling, even other software developers. I think everyone here thinks every other programmer pulls six figures working at a FAANG, but it's not true. Except now, capital is out for blood, and the Palo Alto is the only place with some fat left to trim.

And in China, everyone is in a union yet there’s plenty of innovation.

Unions don’t prevent innovation.

Lol. When I first came to the US I was amazed how backward it was compared to the EU. You still used checks. I had to carry a fucking pen to buy things. Cell phones? Lol no. We're all using phones literally in the Matrix movie, and what did the US have? Nada. You are funny. Let me guess, the USA is #1 in education, #1 in health outcomes? What is the USA #1 in? #1 in dumping toxic waste into the watertable, I think, is that the innovation you're talking about?