The Tech Industry's Moral Vacuum

The New York Times recently reported on how a group of tech elites helped J.D. Vance leap into power. This story isn’t just about one candidate; it’s a symptom of a broader shift in the tech industry’s ethos. These influential figures are pouring millions into supporting candidates and a party that, quite frankly, hold regressive values that clash violently with the image the tech world once projected.

Let’s be clear: the Republican party these billionaires are backing has consistently opposed women’s reproductive rights. They’ve appointed conservative Supreme Court justices who have rolled back long-established rights. The party’s stance on immigration is hostile to the very diversity that made the tech industry a global powerhouse of innovation.

It’s shocking to see figures who built their fortunes on America’s openness and diversity now supporting rhetoric that is contracts with the values of diversity and inclusivity. As an immigrant myself, I find this particularly disheartening.

While the elites cite border policies and San Francisco’s urban challenges as justification, their support for candidates who demean women and stoke anti-immigrant fears is a thinly veiled pursuit of lower taxes and favorable regulations. Yes, Democratic leadership has failed San Francisco in many ways, but embracing a party that rolls back civil rights and environmental protections is not the answer.

This decision to back politicians whose values contradict the tech industry’s original spirit reveals a willingness to sacrifice progressive ideals for personal gain, turning a blind eye to regressive social policies in exchange for financial benefits. This is a far cry from the tech industry that once prided itself on changing the world for the better.

This scenario presents a broader reflection on the values we champion and the legacy we wish to leave behind. The dichotomy between the progressive ethos that once permeated the tech industry and the current political endorsements by its so called elites suggests a community at a crossroads. It beckons a fundamental question: what are the core values we hold dear, and how do they translate into our actions and legacies?

All that said - The Democratic party is fractured. They should have done a hundred more things right and sooner. But it’s still not too late. Biden stepping down is the start of something new. LFG.