#21: The Other Side of The Silicon Valley

I just read an interesting article in TechCrunch this week about the other side of the Silicon Valley. Because I was pretty unaware of this issue I thought others may be interested. While we discuss patents and the big companies I think it is important to look at how influential the decisions of huge tech firms are.

http://vimeo.com/63373007

Veteran Journalist Bill Moyers has fueled a new conversation about the Silicon Valley in his segment called, "Homeless in High Tech's Shadow." "It is a very interesting look at the growing homeless problem in the South Bay of San Francisco that's happening in stark contrast to the growing wealth in the same area."
Instead of looking at the Google cafeteria that provides its employees with gourmet food, the segment features a former worker in that same cafeteria who was laid off as the company tightened its hiring policies and now lives in a tent. It takes a new look at the wealth disparity that has developed in the Valley. 

“Food stamp participation just hit a 10-year high, homelessness rose 20 percent in two years, and the average income for Hispanics, who make up one in four Silicon Valley residents, fell to a new low of about $19,000 a year— capping a steady 14 percent drop over the past five years”

Moyer aruges that offshore tech manufactuing has played a large part in this trend. It is a hard and complicated situation that has resulted from various factors and it is not easy to get a comprehensive picture of everything in this six minute video. However, I think it is an interesting trend that is quite important as it depicts how the decisions of these corporations shape our society in more ways that just the products we consume.