welcome to money is freedom
a podcast
exploring how finance and freedom connect in our lives
created from thoughtful research
and narrated by Notebook LM AI
this series brings you clear
meaningful insights into finance and beyond
welcome back to episode 15
where we're exploring
the critical intersection of technology
policy and innovation
will delve into how government regulations impact
emerging tech sectors like fintech crypto
artificial intelligence energy and defense technology
with insights from leading venture capitalists
Mark Andreasen and Ben Horowitz of A16Z
in Silicon Valley we'll discuss
the delicate balance between fostering innovation
and implementing sensible regulations
welcome to our deep dive into Tekken politics
after this crazy election yeah
seems like
everyone's talking about how intertwined everything is
exactly and we've got two interviews to unpack here
a lot of interesting stuff and uh
some pretty wild theories
well let's jump right in okay
so one speaker actually thinks we're living in
a branched timeline a branched timeline
yeah like we're on one path
but things could have gone a totally different way
they point to two big events okay
the first one was the attempt on that politician's life
right they say
the world could be completely different
if that had gone another way
so like a turning point yeah
interesting and the second event is the selection ah
they think this was the first true internet election
we've had the internet for a while though
I know
but they have some reasons why this one was different
we'll have to get into that definitely
but going back to that timeline split idea
yeah it's kind of scary right
I mean it makes you wonder like
what if things had gone differently right
like the sliding doors kind of thing
exactly and the speaker actually brings up the JFK
assassination oh wow
they're saying there's a similar lack of transparency
around this attempt lack of transparency
how so like
there's no toxicology report
and nobody's really demanding answers huh
that's strange it's almost like
they want us to believe in a conspiracy
yeah I see what you mean
and this ties into a bigger issue
what's that
people just don't trust institutions anymore
yeah that's a huge problem
if we can't get straight answers about something this
big what can we trust
hmm right
it makes you question everything
exactly and you know what else made me question things
what's that
the amount of money going to activist groups
during this election oh yeah
I heard about that like
over a hundred million dollars funneled through Ngos
100 million yeah
and a lot of those Ngos get funding from the government
so the government's basically funding activism
well that's what this speaker thinks huh
they call it soft totalitarianism
soft totalitarianism yeah
it's like the government's trying to control things
indirectly control things
how through these groups
they can censor certain viewpoints
without directly doing it themselves
exactly it's sneaky
it's a bit unsettling it is
and they're not just talking about this election
they see it as a pattern like what
like with Operation Choke Point
I've heard of that the government pressured banks
to stop working with certain businesses
right because they didn't like those businesses exactly
and then there was the Canadian trucker strike
oh yeah
protesters had their licenses threatened
even their kids wow
that's intense
and then there's this thing called the Wells notice
the Wells know that
I'm not familiar with that
it's a notice from the SEC
saying a company might be charged with something okay
but just the possibility of charges can ruin a company
how so
other companies get scared and refuse to work with them
even if they haven't done anything wrong
yeah it's like weaponizing uncertainty
that's pretty messed up it is
and now for something a little lighter
okay I need that
one speaker joked about a department of Government
Efficiency uh huh
they called it doge doge
like the meme these speakers
a big Elon Musk fan uh huh
but it does raise a good question about that
can the government
ever be as efficient as a tech company
that's a good question like
imagine if they could move at that speed
what could they accomplish
what could they accomplish so much right
it's an interesting thought
it is but then we hear about these mouse wigglers
mouse wigglers yeah
apparently
some agencies use them to track employee activity
track their activity
was to see if they're actually working
oh wow
kind of a funny image right
yeah but it also shows how inefficient things are
people getting paid to do nothing basically yeah
and that ties right back into government accountability
and spending are we getting our money's worth
these speakers don't think so yeah
it's a big concern it's like we have amazing tech
but the government can't keep up totally
and it's not just the tech
it's the whole mindset right
and that brings us to American health
oh boy these speakers did not hold back what they say
they basically think the government is poisoning us
poisoning us well
with the food system
they're really critical of subsidies for unhealthy food
yeah that's a big problem
it's like we all know what a healthy diet is right
common knowledge but then we're surrounded by cheap
junk food and the government supporting it exactly
it's messed up
makes it hard to make good choices for sure
but there might be some hope
oh the kind of optimistic about RFK junior
RFK junior yeah
he got appointed to that health position
I heard about that he wants to reform the food system
that's good take on those big food companies
we'll see what happens yeah
it's worth watching definitely
so uh
one speaker told this crazy story
yo yeah
about the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
I remember that Mark Zuckerberg and his wife
trying to cure all diseases
sounds great right
yeah who would be against that
well there was a huge backlash
people are really suspicious
like
some saw it as billionaires trying to control things
like buying influence exactly
others thought it was amazing
like vital funding yeah
that's a tough one is it good or bad
hard to say
it's a bigger debate about philanthropy in government
right who should be doing what
but you know what I liked about these speakers
what's that
they weren't afraid to criticize their own side
oh yeah
they're on the right right
yeah but they called out hypocrisy
like where like with immigration
Republicans used to be all about legal immigration
welcoming people exactly
but now they're much more restrictive
as a big shift it is
and they connected to economics
how so they say
Republicans are now the party of the working class
and Democrats of the elites
yeah kind of a role reversal
interesting and it shows in their policies too
in what way
they say Democrats focus too much on identity politics
and not enough on working families
exactly makes sense
and then anyone who disagrees gets labeled racist
sexist all that
yeah you can't even have a conversation
it's like you have to agree with everything
or you could canceled it's a real problem
both speakers were worried about this intolerance
yeah this unwillingness to debate
we've lost the ability to have nuanced conversations
everything's black and white
us versus them
one speaker even compared it to the Salem witch trials
wow a bit extreme
but I get the point accusations are proof now
and questioning the narrative makes you a heretic
it's toxic totally tearing us apart
so what's the solution yeah
only had some ideas like what
personal responsibility hard work
strong values back to basics
yeah building strong families and communities
sounds good but not easy
especially now true
they also talked about education reform
what do they say our system focuses on indoctrination
not critical thinking kids need to think for themselves
not just be told what to think right
one speaker even suggested teaching stoicism
stoicism yeah
that ancient philosophy self control and resilience
interesting idea it is
it's about rediscovering timeless wisdom
in a world that's changing so fast right
we need that grounding maybe the past can guide us
what do you think I think there's something to that
yeah me too
those old ideas have lasted for a reason
exactly and you know what else surprised me
what's that they were all about embracing change
we usually hear about resisting change
I know but they see it as inevitable
fighting it is pointless you'll just get frustrated
and civilizations that embrace change thrive
the ones that cling to the past decline
it's true the US is at a pivotal moment
adapt or get left behind we're at a fork in the road
one path leads to progress
the other to stagnation the choice is ours
and they see AI and blockchain
as both a challenge and opportunity
they could revolutionize everything for better or worse
depends how we use them
so it's about our intentions and values exactly
one speaker even predicted AI powered governments
AI governments sounds crazy right
like but they think AI could solve a lot of problems
like corruption inefficiency
exact sightedness a government driven by data and logic
not emotion interesting
but scary who would control it
how do we make sure it's ethical
big questions definitely
and they also see potential in blog chain
for everything finance
voting supply chains
more transparency insecurity
empowering individuals decentralization
but of course there are challenges
like what scalability regulations
bad actors always two sides right
but even with all that
they're optimistic about the future
American ingenuity will prevail
we can create a better world
but it takes effort courage
challenging the status quo
they want us to have a pioneer spirit
take risks explore new frontiers
build something new it's about shaping the future
not just waiting for it it really is like uh
taking control you know exactly
it's about individual action
that's a big take away from these conversations
yeah it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the problems
great but these speakers remind us that we
can make a difference even small things like voting
volunteering
or just talking to people about these issues
they told this great story about some young people
oh yeah
promoting civic engagement
getting others involved yeah
it shows
that change can start anywhere from the bottom up
grassroots movement exactly yeah
so don't underestimate your own power
your voice your action
you can be a catalyst in your community
but it's also about being informed
knowing who to support right
look beyond those party labels
support candidates who share your values
we need to move past this partisan gridlock
find leaders who are competent
ethical who actually want to serve the public
not just their party it's about putting country first
I think everyone can agree on that
so we've covered a lot
a ton of ground
but there are a few more things I wanna mention
oh yeah
what else one speaker was worried about
political discourse the quality of the conversation
yeah it's gotten so bad
they blame social media it's all outrage and division
people just wanna score points
not have real conversation
we're addicted to the drama
the conflict the negativity
it's hard to find thoughtful debate
and they also criticize the mainstream media
oh yeah
what they say it's all about sensationalism and ratings
not accuracy they just wanna grab your attention
keep you hooked even if it means twisting the truth
it's a problem because it distorts reality
makes it harder to understand things
and then there's government overreach
oh yeah
that was a big one
they think that government is too intrusive in our lies
regulating everything but we eat
what we say how we raise our kids
it's stifling they want less government
more freedom the classic libertarian argument
it might be controversial
but it's worth considering definitely
and that's what these speakers did so well
presenting different perspective
challenging our assumptions
encouraging critical thinking
it's a lesson in forming your own opinions
absolutely I've Learned a lot from these conversations
me too and I hope you have to listener
we've covered so much technology
human nature history
but the key takeaway is that
we're living in a time of incredible change
unprecedented opportunity
the old rules are gone the lines are blurring
the future is uncertain but also exciting
it's up to us to decide what happens next
these speakers believe we're at a crossroads
the choices we make now will have huge consequences
not just for us but for future generations
it's a big responsibility
but also an incredible opportunity
we can shape the future create a better world
more just more prosperous
more fulfilling but it takes work
we have to be informed engaged and courageous
embrace change challenge the status quo
work together build a better future
so go out there and make a difference
the future is waiting
and that concludes our deep dive for today
thanks for joining us until next time
keep learning keep questioning
and keep pushing the boundaries