Throughout history there has been a lag between scientific discovery and the mainstream acceptance of the moral conundrums presented by that discovery, from the Earth is round, to xenotransplantation, to current stem cell research and cloning. Our systems of morality and ethics morph at a much slower rate than does scientific theory.

Science Fiction is a fantastic mechanism for exploring the possibilities presented by new technologies, and their ethical repercussions, to say "This is where our science may take us, and are we okay with that?" It allows us to begin adapting our ethics in advance of the technology becoming available.

Apple is the largest corporation in the world. The iPhone is notorious for being produced by slave labor (google foxconn suicides). How many of the occupy wall street protesters use Apple products?

If you want to make a difference, vote with your dollars. Demand that the companies you do business with behave ethically. Humane treatment of employees and subcontractors instead of sweat shops. Reasonable CEO compensation with bonuses based on creating value, instead of huge payouts regardless of performance. Holding vendors and subcontractors accountable for their actions, instead of turning a blind eye because the price is right. The 1% has our money BECAUSE WE GAVE IT TO THEM.

I find it ironic that these folks are protesting corporations, to whom we voluntarily give our money in return for products and services, instead of the government who takes it by force.

A potential investor will look at four potential areas of risk: Market, Team, Finance, and Technology.

Most software folks do GREAT on the team and technology stuff. It's what we live for. Unfortunately, it's the market and financials that get investors fired up.

Part of building your team is finding folks who know how to talk to customers and turn that into a financial forecast. This is called MARKETING, and is crucial to any new venture. If you can't get anyone to stand up and say "Hey, if you build this, I'll buy it!" it will be nearly impossible to get funding. No one wants to put dollars in to a business unless they have a very clear idea of when dollars will start coming out. So go find yourself a great marketing person, and an accountant.

You can try to build your own company without outside funding. It's a lot like getting a home-schooled MBA. Even if it doesn't work out, you'll learn a LOT and will at least have had the opportunity to work at a level above what's available in an established company. Sharpening your chops is always a good thing.

You can also get a great team together and find a company who needs your services, who would be willing to deal with the business issues (paychecks, infrastructure, marketing, sales, finace) in return for your contribution as employees. Getting a pre-formed team is a company's dream. Unfortunately most companies can't affort bulk hires right now, but if you can show that the work your group will perform for the company will pay for the investment the company makes in the group, you'll have a chance.

If you can find a great team, try starting your own group or company. It'll give you something to do other than watch the History Channel. The worst that will happen is you'll learn something while looking for a job. The upside is the potential for creating your own opportunity, your dream job, the company you always wanted to work for. I highly recommend it.

Here's a good place to start for the how to of doing your own thing. Good luck!