[RuadhanMc]

Having a healthy skepticism towards capitalism and the "free market" does not make you a socialist. I'm equally skeptical about rampant socialism. The answer is in the middle somewhere. An ideologically impure position perhaps, but a pragmatic one none the less.

Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism. Just because you want to start a business and earn buckets of money yourself, doesn't mean that you must be against a social safety net. Why would it?

[maratd]

Being an entrepreneur isn't incompatible with social capitalism.

You're right, it isn't. And, of course, nothing is stopping a pacifist from joining the military. After all, he can get a desk job. What I want to know is why.

Certain personality types are attracted to specific ideologies and in turn, specific careers. Why is somebody who is fascinated with wealth redistribution and income equality spend his time on a site which is devoted to the exact opposite on a personal level?

Simply drawing a dividing line between society and the self is not an answer. Most people have a congruent perspective when it comes social policy and their personal policy.

Why are these people different?

[RuadhanMc]

My guess is that the people who frequent Hacker News are mostly not attached to one extreme ideology or the other. They like the creative freedom and empowerment that a capitalist society brings, but also the knowledge that if they fall on hard times then there is a safety net that keeps them off the streets. Remember, we can't all be winners all of the time, sometimes bad stuff happens to good people. Smart people know this.

Life isn't black and white and ideologies don't need to be either.

[maratd]

They like the creative freedom and empowerment that a capitalist society brings, but also the knowledge that if they fall on hard times then there is a safety net that keeps them off the streets. Remember, we can't all be winners all of the time, sometimes bad stuff happens to good people.

I understand now. That's the key.

Just my two cents, but it looks to me like there are two types of entrepreneurs. Those who believe in themselves completely and those who believe in luck to some extent.

If you believe in yourself completely, any failure stems from yourself and can be corrected. No need for a safety net, just correct the error and keep going.

Luck, on the other hand, is not something that can be controlled. It just happens or it doesn't, requiring a safety net in case it doesn't happen.

Makes sense to me now. Thank you.