Remember when HN was about programming and startups, not class warfare and income inequality?
That was nice.
That was nice.
For that matter, a hell of a lot of startups are predicated on the existence of a large middle class as a mass consumer market.
For anyone who depends on a healthy, growing economy for their livelihood and/or wealth, there's a pretty good case to be made that it is in your enlightened self-interest to do anything within reason to promote a large, prosperous middle class with the surplus purchasing power to drive future economic growth.
All it says is HN is more of a general social media site instead of one with a laser focus on startups.
And an economy dominated by the Finance, Insurance and Real-Estate sector can't support the mass consumer market start-ups need.
I think that a lot of less qualified people recognized the quality of HN and began browsing here. When a general interest topic comes up, it's their opportunity to have an opinion.
With that comes upvotes and comments. I really don't care about your passionate, unnuanced assessment of American politics, or the articles you want me to read because they echo your beliefs. I want the stuff that doesn't make sense to me so I can make it make sense. I want to follow the economic and professional climate of this engine of innovation.
I found HN by following a link in a comment on reddit, to which someone had directed the admonishment, "Please don't ruin that." I won't say that HN has been ruined since I came here but it has undeniably changed.
Well everyone on the Internet "is-an-economist-too" -- so by implication: of course!
I find the non-tech links to usually be an interesting diversion but I have to resist the temptation of adding my own hot air to all of the arm chair philosophy in the comment section. I often fail in this attempt.