Ask HN: Help me breakdown this idea

7 points by RemoteComm 5 years ago | 6 comments

Rules - Think from a startup and product management perspective.

Preface - Anyone who ever worked a job in tech will know that how easily salaries can be in 100s thousand to millions, and we only hear about the outliers in the mainstream media but we know there are people who built things and sold companies for 20-200 mil. So, if we can engineer digital products and generate such wealth, can we engineer something to help people so they don't work 3 jobs to pay rent in the middle of the next pandemic?

How about a Digital Nation, DN

Create a new country which exists on the internet. A country without a physical border, which means, doesn’t matter geographically where you are on the planet you have an electronic passport. For example, a local doctor who is a citizen of the DN is paid by DN to provide care for other DN citizens who live in the same geographic area.

The new nation has its own digital currency which is guaranteed by an electronic ledger that is funded by the citizens, and a charter which is designed to deliver basic standard of living for citizens. A basic income paid in local currency to pay for cost of living such as: - Internet (partnership with Starlink?) - Shelter - Medical etc. --- How does one go about building such a thing ? Breaking down the basic needs by overcoming logistical problems?

Thank you, for time and sharing your thoughts.

anigbrowl 5 years ago |

It's limited to being a mutual aid society because existing states will refuse to recognize it due to the absence of territory; and insofar as its a transnational entity it will be regulated, taxes, or outlawed to a degree incompatible with its ongoing sustainability.

That doesn't mean I don't think it's a good idea, just that it's going to encounter enormous opposition from existing powers, both formal and informal.

RemoteComm 5 years ago | |

yeah like a UN seat etc.. what if said startup negotiates with existing entities from cost point of view..

anigbrowl 5 years ago | | |

Well you need something to negotiate with, and historically it should be tubular and percussive.

dudus 5 years ago |

Tech doesn't just magically create wealth because it exists.

Tech jobs pay well because of market imbalance. Jobs > Candidates. When/If this balence is broken tech jobs salary will decrease. It also is justified because tech jobs generate value, in either revenue or equity, arguably. That also can change in the future.

Creating a digital currency and digital passport doesn't create wealth out of thing air. So you need money to pay for the services you plan to provite your denizens with. You are invariably asking richer individuals to pay for their own services plus extra for the poor denizens.

That's just socialism, when you force your denizens to finance equal services for all. Or donation with extra steps when they do it out of the generosity in their hearts.

I don't see how you can spin this into anything that makes sense.

RemoteComm 5 years ago | |

I would argue that yes tech actually does just magically create wealth. Ask any one who has started a software company, any one who does wordpress or any cms websites. You build lines of codes for people and people pay you, thats the magic. And yes you point out great it will need fund. It will need founders who know how to create wealth to fund such idea. Think if "money" was no object, what is the total monthly cost of living of everyone on the planet and then will work backwards on how much burnrate is needed to fund. etc etc..

Yes market imbalance is the reason for high pay, I am just pointing out thats the advantage tech group has and gets to execute such ideas.

kazinator 5 years ago | | |

Tech creates wealth because, say, a smartphone is more valuable than the materials from which is made.

If it is run over by a tank, it is still made of the same materials, but its value is diminished to close to zero.