What does it say that HN is becoming increasingly aware of these issues?

For that matter, a hell of a lot of startups are predicated on the existence of a large middle class as a mass consumer market.

Indeed. And middle-class consumer demand not only drives significant parts of the economy directly, it has major spin-off effects that impact the health as the economy as a whole and the potential healthy growth rate of the economy.

For anyone who depends on a healthy, growing economy for their livelihood and/or wealth, there's a pretty good case to be made that it is in your enlightened self-interest to do anything within reason to promote a large, prosperous middle class with the surplus purchasing power to drive future economic growth.

This should be on every CEO's wall when he wakes up in the morning.

>What does it say that HN is becoming increasingly aware of these issues?

All it says is HN is more of a general social media site instead of one with a laser focus on startups.

>For that matter, a hell of a lot of startups are predicated on the existence of a large middle class as a mass consumer market.

And an economy dominated by the Finance, Insurance and Real-Estate sector can't support the mass consumer market start-ups need.

Astute.

HN is for things hackers find interesting. I, for one, find ruminations on the deepest problems facing society to be more interesting than SnapCrush's Series B or the latest Javascript that isn't Javascript.

A year or so ago I felt that the discourse on HN was so expert, I was afraid to join in. If a topic such as this came up, I would wonder, "Christ, is everyone on this board an economist too?" Time was, the pathos, the me-toos, and the ad-homs were unwritten.

I think that a lot of less qualified people recognized the quality of HN and began browsing here. When a general interest topic comes up, it's their opportunity to have an opinion.

With that comes upvotes and comments. I really don't care about your passionate, unnuanced assessment of American politics, or the articles you want me to read because they echo your beliefs. I want the stuff that doesn't make sense to me so I can make it make sense. I want to follow the economic and professional climate of this engine of innovation.

I found HN by following a link in a comment on reddit, to which someone had directed the admonishment, "Please don't ruin that." I won't say that HN has been ruined since I came here but it has undeniably changed.

> Christ, is everyone on this board an economist too?

Well everyone on the Internet "is-an-economist-too" -- so by implication: of course!

I've noticed the HN hive mind becomes interested in certain types of non-tech topics for a few days and then moves back to tech.

I find the non-tech links to usually be an interesting diversion but I have to resist the temptation of adding my own hot air to all of the arm chair philosophy in the comment section. I often fail in this attempt.

Surely inventing new technology to disrupt markets requires a deep understanding of those markets, and the social fabric they are woven in? Surely software is made by people, and understanding people is key to understanding the process of making software? It's not an accident that the greatest inventors were renaissance men and women, with broad and deep understanding across many areas.

Many people now use the 'hn is for anything hackers find interesting' excuse to post whatever is hot on reddit.