Ed and Ron explored Marc Andresseen's "The Techno-Optimist Manifesto." It's a thought-provoking piece that we largely agree with. You can find the Manifesto at: https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
Use these show notes to follow along with audio…
Segment one:
Take the economics of our show over the last 9.5 hours and boil it down into one thing. What do you get? The Techno-Optimist Manifesto at this link: https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
The Techno-Optimist Manifesto reminds Ron of Virginia Postrel and her book, “The FUTURE AND ITS ENEMIES” https://www.amazon.com/FUTURE-ITS-ENEMIES-Creativity-Enterprise/dp/0684862697
When we talk about the word conservative, we mean different things within the United States. Some conservatives today want to conserve the 1950s. True to themselves, others want to conserve the Declaration of Independence and it’s codification in the Constitution
“Economic growth is not a cure-all, but lack of growth is a kill-all.” —Paul Collier
Segment two:
In the “Markets” section of the Techno-Optimist Manifesto, Andreesen directly addresses transaction costs and the ability of the market to reduce them. This is AirBNB. This is Uber. This is anything that reduces transaction costs.
Hayek’s classic paper, "The Use of Knowledge in Society" was referenced by Ron and Ed today. Link is here: https://www.econlib.org/library/Essays/hykKnw.html
“The law lags culture. The law emerges from the culture. It’s a lot easier to trade with one another than it is to just take it from one another.” —Ed Kless on today’s show
In summary, we have 300 years of history to prove that technology drives wages up NOT down. More in the “Markets” section of the Techno-Optimist Manifesto https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
Segment three:
Ed dropping geographic knowledge today, “Jamaica and Singapore have roughly the same population and are roughly the same longitudinally.”
“Maybe calling [technology] a tool is too utilitarian? At the end of the day, it’s a hammer, it’s a wrench.” —Ron Baker
One of the best lines from the Techno-Optimist Manifesto: “We believe Artificial Intelligence is our alchemy, our Philosopher’s Stone – we are literally making sand think.”https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto
The most PROVOCATIVE line in the entire Techno-Optimist Manifesto: “Deaths that were preventable by the AI that was prevented from existing is a form of murder.” https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
Did you know that President Nixon called for the construction of 1,000 nuclear power plants by the year 2000?
Segment four:
Thomas Sowell argues that the constrained vision relies heavily on the belief that human nature is essentially unchanging. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Conflict_of_Visions#:~:text=Sowell%20argues%20that%20the%20constrained,law%20and%20experience%20of%20tradition
“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” —Richard Feynman
Ron and Ed BARELY had enough time during the show today to go through half of the Techno-Optimist Manifesto. If you have strong beliefs, loosely held then this piece is WELL worth your time. https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
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