[spinningslate]

which is what enables the French government to fund companies like lichess in the first place.

>Their resources would go further if they left.

So, what, say "thanks for the funding that got us started, we're off to fill our pockets somewhere else now"?

[Karunamon]

… Absolutely yes? Governments are amoral entities, and this particular relationship is based entirely on power (pay us or else), not mutual respect or any of the other things that characterize human social relationships.

If we must anthropomorphize them anyways, then they have paid back in taxes many times more than they were given to start. Any such "implicit" debt was long since paid, so they could move with a clear conscience.

[capableweb]

You do get back a lot from the taxes you're paying, at least in many European countries, where healthcare is widely available to all. I don't feel bad paying what an American would consider "a lot of taxes" because I know it could (but doesn't always) go to helping my neighbor who maybe wouldn't be able to pay for a hospital visit if not. I also use all the built infrastructure every single day, and maintaining it costs money, obviously.

How much money were they given to start? I looked around for the numbers but I couldn't find it, but seems you were able to, could you share the full number you found?

[jehb]

Not to take this conversation too far off track, but the reverse argument could just as easily be made. Companies are amoral entities, existing only to deliver whatever value their owners wish to extract. Governments, meanwhile, are just the manifestation of the will of the people who live in a place. Even currency itself is just a creation of the people by way of the government; no business has any particular right to it.

[beefield]

Not only just as easily, but much more easily assuming somewhat functioning democracy.

[throw_pm23]

I don't even dare ask what your opinion would be of concepts as nation or homeland.