Technology Entrepreneurs & Statism

I just read Tim Swanson's latest post on LRC. It talks about Obama's proposal for a Chief Technology Officer, and how several key people in the tech industry are supporting it.

As someone who pays close attention to the technology industry, I've always been intrigued by the statist policies that Silicon Valley types seem to embrace.

What fascinates me is the fact that these are some of the finest capitalist entrepreneurs in our society. After all, the technology industry is (in relative terms) one of the least regulated sectors of the economy. If you know how to code (and anticipate future consumer demands) the sky's the limit.

So here we have some very smart individuals who: a) use their own minds, b) make their own decisions, and c) use their own private property...to create some of the finest, life-changing innovations. They then put their creations to the market test. There are no worries about licensing, or permits, or red tape.

Oftentimes, these individuals give their software away for free. They do so for various reasons, but no matter what the reason, they don't worry about anti-trust laws, or being hassled for "dumping", or "predatory pricing."

Since a relative free market has been the greatest blessing for these entrepreneurs, it has always fascinated me when I read their political and economic opinions. In my opinion, if there ever were a sector of entrepreneurs who desperately need exposure to Mises and Rothbard, this would be the one. They're already sitting on "acres of diamonds" and don't even know it.