made in america

 I watched a recent video from smarter everyday, while I am still keeping my YouTube usage to a minimum, (I think I could count the number of hours on YouTube I have been on one hand for the last 3 or so months), it definitely is something I have been thinking a lot about for a while. I even bought a webpage on the topic (kinda) though if I still own it I'll likely let it lapse, but the premise is this. Right now you can buy a computer and mine Bitcoin (ok fine, really not anymore, but for a while you could), and so you gave someone the ability to invest a bit of money to them generate a profit out of your....garage ..so to speak. I wondered if you could design an open source/whatever that you could build a box to place in your garage that has some kind of manufacturing capability. 

I know what you're thinking...this is 3d printing...and while that is partly true. I mean other things that we can't (yet) 3d print. I'm talking for example bolts, what if you had a machine that raw metal...rods? Went into and put popped threaded bolts. Eventually being able to build up to whatever manufacturing capability (heck my dream is to be able to design and build chips in my garage).

 

Anuwho I thought it was a fun watch, and def aligned with ideas I've had in the past...then again. According to the video one of our challenges is our lack of tool and die experienced people which is def an issue. And this idea of garage mfg doesn't quite fitx that, then again, maybe we can open source that knowledge (if we haven't) and go from there and build a more capable place.

who is in control?

 I've noticed this thing going on, and maybe it's obvious to others, and has been obvious, but when money is flowing companies are essentially driving people to come work for them, they are more tolerant with behaviors and opinions of their staff, etc.

On the flip side, when money isn't flowing it's the opposite where before employees are almost 'in control' in this environment the company is in control.

What is interesting in particular to me is that it seems like the government can make this swing each direction, by making money easy, then money is flowing and the first scenario holds. When they turn down the faucet things tighten up, and the second scenario holds. 

What got me wondering is, suppose there was no faucet or big picture control, what would the environment look like, would it naturally balance where they have somewhat equal control (or replace power in the above statements too) would companies naturally be in control, employees?