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by Hermitian909 1463 days ago
> Will tech companies continue to flock to Texas, in what will become a very difficult environment for abortion?

Recruiting for tech in Texas has already taken a hit due fear around abortion (getting employees to move down there can be quite difficult).

More broadly, I think this is likely to put a big damper on high-end knowledge work in conservative states. Educated people are overwhelmingly liberal. While you could certainly find a subset of knowledge workers who don't have an issue working in a state banning abortion, the difficulties with hiring and transfers probably won't pass a cost benefit analysis (again, we already see this in Texas).

2 comments

I always find it a bit funny that HN/tech crowd is generally considered liberal, when I as a Norwegian feel opinions here are sooo conservative. Guess it depends on frame of reference. Democrats would probably be far to the right in Norway?
I'm definitely using the American frame of reference here. I'd totally agree most of my colleagues who self-describe as liberal would be conservatives through much of Europe.
No, it really depends on the issue - economics, speech, voting rights, gender rights, abortion rights. Of the later, Democrats are far to the left of Europeans.

Also, I’ll point out that HN (and SV) has a little “l” libertarian streak (entrepreneurship) which favors smaller government and personal accountability/agency.

"Knowledge" worker in Texas here (native; didn't move here). I don't feel this affects me for a few reasons, but I will say that I'm also aware that 1. I can travel out of state, and 2. drugs are available online and there are drugs that can provide medical abortions - perhaps those can be put together.

That said, in talking with a colleague this morning, we agreed that if the state does go completely crazy and manages to secede, we just want enough notice to sell our property so we can leave.

I'd assume the GOP leadership in TX will act in bad faith or for their protection first. If you have a single female friend or associate this ruling will impact you. It will have far reaching consequences beyond just abortion access including the possibility of IVR becoming illegal as well. We're about to see a huge slate of medical procedures and practices caught up in this ruling.
> 2. drugs are available online and there are drugs that can provide medical abortions - perhaps those can be put together.

And you are willing to risk going to prison for murder (that's what they will call it) if caught?

Have you seen the recent news from Texas? You might have noticed that our police aren't all that effective.
The Texas law makes it so any citizen can file a civil suit against anyone who has an abortion, including ones performed out of state. There are already pro-life organizations that will help people fund these civil suits.