Here's a hint: there are parts of the US outside of the bay area. Bay area provincialism may have blinded you to that fact, so consider this a helpful reminder.
So? I don't get your point. Are programmers from outside the Bay Area prevented from applying to work at companies like Google/Facebook? Quite the opposite. However, if you're looking for a guy to write your next database engine/compiler/OS kernel/Internet-scale search engine, you will hit a shortage.
Somewhere where they're informed enough to realize authoritarian capitalism isn't any better.
I'd prefer non-authoritarian anything (preferably, non-authoritarian free market capitalism).
For those whos status would decrease, boo fucking hoo.
So they have no say in how YOU spend THEIR money? That's not democratic, nor is it moral.
Providing services to those who need them will increase the funds available to the private sector. When you give aid to the poor, they spend it. That money goes directly to the bottom line of businesses, allowing them to create jobs. Give aid to the rich like the US does, and they just sit on it.
The problem is government aid is an expense which requires money. National budget money comes from 3 sources: 1) Taxes. There's a big misconception about taxes: people think that these can be raised arbitrarily to raise all the money the government needs. In practice, this doesn't work; businesses close and rich people move their money. 2) Borrowing. This is good for present generations, but bad for future ones, especially considering that borrowing comes with interest. 3) Inflation. Past a certain point, this is universally considered bad (it turns into hyperinflation). If there isn't enough money from these 3 sources, there's really no other reasonable choice but to limit aid.
The moon is made of green cheese. -- John Heywood