[ars]

> There is a great safety-net available too in most European countries. These two should make for a greater tech culture, at least abstractly.

Quite the opposite actually. The better your life if you don't take a risk, the less likely it is that you will take a risk. And because people usually overestimate risk, risks are usually worth it.

[virmundi]

I agree with this. I've recently started my own company. My wife has a job which covers our bills. I don't have a fear that we're going to get totally wiped out. As a result I don't focus as much as I should on it. Instead I work around the house or get lost on the Internet on HN or Reddit.

[thrownaway2424]

Right! America is great because we really do let our people starve in the streets, so they work harder :-/

Sad if true.