Silicon Valley stays quiet as Washington implodes

In a better time, circa 1998, Cypress Semiconductor founder and CEO T.J. Rodgers gave a provocative speech, titled: “Why Silicon Valley Should Not Normalize Relations with Washington D.C.”

This speech, at the Cato Institute Forbes Conference on Technology and Society, is important to the understanding of Silicon Valley.

The valley may vote overwhelmingly Democratic in elections, but it has a very strong libertarian streak — it doesn’t want Washington interfering with its business and start-up culture.

Rogers argued that the politics of Washington are antithetical to Silicon Valley’s core values. “The very way it works, Washington undermines the free minds and free markets that are the cornerstone of Silicon Valley’s success,” said Rodgers, in a speech that raised issues with both political parties.

SOURCE: computerworld.com