How Tech Can Rebuild America

A society that attempts to completely eliminate suffering from our existence faces a challenge. This is particularly relevant to technology, where the goal is often to remove friction. We are striving for a frictionless society, but suffering is innate; it builds character and resilience. If childhood and adolescence are spent trying to remove every aspect of suffering, individuals do not mature. They remain childlike, leading to adults fumbling through their twenties as if they were still children. Consequently, society treats 30-year-olds as if they are still kids.

In America, when we use the term "seriousness" in a certain context, people often think, "Why do you take yourself so seriously?" They mean you should have a sense of humor, laugh, and enjoy life. I completely agree with that. However, the opposite of seriousness isn't laughter or humor; it's irony. David Foster Wallace offers the best definition of irony: it's the pulling apart of anything sacred. You pick at it, gnaw at it, pull it apart, and tear it down until absolutely nothing is left.

I pinpoint a specific time that often receives pushback. While many cite 1971 as a turning point, referencing the website "WTF Happened in 1971," I believe the shift occurred in 1973. This change was bipartisan, stemming from Nixon's decision to end the draft. Though it followed the unpopular Vietnam War and was praised by both sides, its symbolic impact was profound. It signaled that serving one's country was no longer a universal expectation, but rather for volunteers only. This created a societal divide. Previously, societal elites felt dishonored if they didn't serve their country; everyone served.

I believe we've changed things. I wrote a piece about four or five years ago called "Make Government Cool Again." It highlighted how everything Elon Musk touches, especially in his unique way, turns to gold and becomes cool. Building rockets was once considered the most unappealing endeavor. When he started SpaceX, it was right after September 11th. The world wasn't looking to the stars; America was on a different trajectory after the largest terrorist attack in its history. Then, almost exactly two years later, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred. No one was thinking of doing that.

That's a good question. What it taught me, and why I think it wasn't a hard transition, is that journalism is an innately lonely profession. It's very lonely, similar to investing. Even though you're on a team—I was on a great team at The Washington Post and now at Andreessen Horowitz—ultimately, it's your name on that investment or your byline on that story. If you're wrong, it's a very public failure. You have to stand by it. What it taught me at a young age, since I started reporting around 24, is that you have to wake up every day, put your name on something, and deal with the consequences of publicly doing so.

What makes America so special? Looking at this election and the ongoing conversations between tech and government mandates, J.D. Vance, who I believe understands the fusion of tech and government better than anyone, states, "America is a nation. We are not just an idea." I strongly agree. This is a place with history and culture. It's a fusion of extraordinary ideas from liberal democracy, combined with an understanding of the culture that makes America great, and an unparalleled freedom, liberalism, and capitalism.