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Is the Creative Class Engine Sputtering?

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-wish-a-buck-was-still-silver dept.

Geoffrey.landis writes "The 'creative class' was supposed to be the new engine of the United States economy, but according to Scott Timberg, writing in Salon, that engine is sputtering. While a very few technologists have become very wealthy, for most creative workers, the rise of amateurs and enthusiasts means that few are actually making a living. The new economy is good for the elite who own the servers, but, for most, 'the dream of a laptop-powered "knowledge class" is dead,' he says."

6 of 520 comments (clear)

  1. for the retarded... by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    it's called "patent trolling," "eternal copyright," and "software patents."

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    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
    1. Re:for the retarded... by blarkon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      India doesn't have software patents (http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2005/04/4837.ars) and we can see clearly how Indian software has left our patent encumbered western system in the dust with its amazing innovations.

    2. Re:for the retarded... by Alex+Belits · · Score: 5, Insightful

      India made a choice of building what is essentially a colonial economy without the colony part -- they produce things (call center "service", software) they can not possibly use at home, and rely on exporting them abroad, then (supposedly) using money to buy things abroad for local consumption. It builds no infrastructure, provides very distorted demand for education, and keeps large fraction of population in perpetual poverty.

      China, on the other hand, develops economy in a way that builds industrial infrastructure that can produce products directly usable locally.

      --
      Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
  2. Mod parent up! by khasim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's easier (and more lucrative) for existing companies to use lawyers to bankrupt anyone with a creative idea that might threaten those companies.

    The moment you try to capitalize on your idea, you'll be looking at cease-and-desist letters and lawsuits claiming some kind of infringement.

    The entire system needs an overhaul.

    1. Re:Mod parent up! by trout007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I highly recommend thus book. The problem stems from the definition of property. It's main characteristic is that it is scarce. Real goods are property. Ideas are not. The problem with patents and copyrights are they are trying to make a non scarce good artificially scarce.

      http://mises.org/books/against.pdf

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      I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
  3. Re:He is using strange definitions by tftp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Making music and making money are completely different skills.

    That's true everywhere. Writing a good, fast code in C and assembly is in no way related to smooth-talking a client into signing a contract to develop the abovementioned code. Many programmers who are capable of the former in their sleep can't do the latter if their life depended on it.

    The musician in your example (talented but poor) needs to either learn how to develop his business or hire a manager. A talented programmer can develop business skills to manage his own business (contracts, ISV like iPhone/Android) or he can join someone else's company; then business opportunities will be taken care of by someone else (along with the lion's share of profits.)

    It is not easy for a programmer to gain businessman's skills. I'd guess it's equally hard for an artist. But that's what the money is paid for. If you don't want to touch that, you are still free to code (or compose music) in your parents' basement. Only don't expect anyone to know about you or want to pay you.