Comments on: On big capitals, big government, and whose fault it is http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/ Sermo humanus per verba irata Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:31:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: mildlypiquedacademician http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5608 mildlypiquedacademician Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:57:26 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5608 AV wrote: ###So, while I exaggerated to say that there are absolutely no 100%-civilian technology jobs in NoVa, I still maintain that Northern Virginia’s technological prominence stems both directly and indirectly from its connection to the good ol’ military-industrial complex.### Yeah, that's how I would have figured it. Of course, there are other places heavily influenced by the MIC, e.g., Silicon Valley. Over time, however (maybe with NoVa the exception), the government has become a smaller and smaller part of the economy. Uncle Sam used to be able to dictate to tech companies; not anymore. AV wrote:

###So, while I exaggerated to say that there are absolutely no 100%-civilian technology jobs in NoVa, I still maintain that Northern Virginia’s technological prominence stems both directly and indirectly from its connection to the good ol’ military-industrial complex.###

Yeah, that’s how I would have figured it. Of course, there are other places heavily influenced by the MIC, e.g., Silicon Valley. Over time, however (maybe with NoVa the exception), the government has become a smaller and smaller part of the economy. Uncle Sam used to be able to dictate to tech companies; not anymore.

]]> By: Angry Virginian http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5601 Angry Virginian Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:55:45 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5601 Yes, the tech industry in Northern Virginia is huge, including 100% civilian companies such as AOL. However, I would argue that the civilian tech companies ended up there for reasons that are tied to the government's influence. For one thing, there is an enormous amount of Internet infrastructure there going all the way back to the Internet's ARPANet origins, making it a good place to set up shop if you're expecting a lot of traffic and don't want to be in a different timezone than your servers. For another, a lot of primarily civilian consulting companies set up shop in the area thinking of a possibility of establishing a military/government wing. For a third reason, as much as it irks my liberal heart to use the phrase, there is a lot of "trickle-down" technology business, where a company provides a generic civilian technology (e.g. storage solutions) that is purchased by the other companies that get their paychecks from Uncle Sam. So, while I exaggerated to say that there are absolutely no 100%-civilian technology jobs in NoVa, I still maintain that Northern Virginia's technological prominence stems both directly and indirectly from its connection to the good ol' military-industrial complex. Yes, the tech industry in Northern Virginia is huge, including 100% civilian companies such as AOL. However, I would argue that the civilian tech companies ended up there for reasons that are tied to the government’s influence. For one thing, there is an enormous amount of Internet infrastructure there going all the way back to the Internet’s ARPANet origins, making it a good place to set up shop if you’re expecting a lot of traffic and don’t want to be in a different timezone than your servers. For another, a lot of primarily civilian consulting companies set up shop in the area thinking of a possibility of establishing a military/government wing. For a third reason, as much as it irks my liberal heart to use the phrase, there is a lot of “trickle-down” technology business, where a company provides a generic civilian technology (e.g. storage solutions) that is purchased by the other companies that get their paychecks from Uncle Sam.

So, while I exaggerated to say that there are absolutely no 100%-civilian technology jobs in NoVa, I still maintain that Northern Virginia’s technological prominence stems both directly and indirectly from its connection to the good ol’ military-industrial complex.

]]> By: mildlypiquedacademician http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5599 mildlypiquedacademician Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:32:08 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5599 IMO, the fact that the capital (DC) isn't the commercial center (until recently, New York) was largely an accident of history. DC was picked as the capital as a compromise between Southern and Northern states. New York was, of course, the first capital (under the 1787 Constitution) and is the East Coast's big commercial center. At one point in the 19th Century, Baltimore was a very large port, but that city's declined relative to others. But as easy to find histories will tell you, the size of DC grew first with the Civil War, and it has been subsequent wars that made DC get large. I thought, though, that Northern Virginia had a lot of businesses of various sorts, particularly in tech? IMO, the fact that the capital (DC) isn’t the commercial center (until recently, New York) was largely an accident of history. DC was picked as the capital as a compromise between Southern and Northern states. New York was, of course, the first capital (under the 1787 Constitution) and is the East Coast’s big commercial center. At one point in the 19th Century, Baltimore was a very large port, but that city’s declined relative to others. But as easy to find histories will tell you, the size of DC grew first with the Civil War, and it has been subsequent wars that made DC get large.

I thought, though, that Northern Virginia had a lot of businesses of various sorts, particularly in tech?

]]> By: Angry Midwesterner http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5597 Angry Midwesterner Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:56:04 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/on-big-capitals-big-government-and-whose-fault-it-is/#comment-5597 Actually, given that I don't currently live in Northern Virginia, and that I haven't in 8 1/2 years, I wouldn't really qualify as a "long term resident". I once was, which is why I hate that state with such a passion. Actually, given that I don’t currently live in Northern Virginia, and that I haven’t in 8 1/2 years, I wouldn’t really qualify as a “long term resident”. I once was, which is why I hate that state with such a passion.

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