On: Regarding Proposed US Restrictions on RISC-V

[lolinder]

The numbers aren't large, but it's worth noting that 7 out of 18 signatories of the original letter received donatations from Intel's PAC in 2022 [0]:

Mike Gallagher: $6000

Marco Rubio: $2500

Haley Stevens: $2000

Carlos Gimenez: $5000

Darin LaHood: $7000

Andy Barr: $2000

Ashley Hinson: $10000

Total: $34500

[0] https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs...

[rany_ → lolinder]

I sure hope they aren't that cheap.

[lolinder → rany_]

As I understand it, the donation is not the price of legislation, it's the price to get your foot in the door for additional lobbying efforts later.

If a lobbyist connected to a donor requests a meeting, they get it, and if the lobbyist can then make a convincing enough case (preferably legally but sometimes otherwise) they can get action in their favor.

[bsder → rany_]

Oh, that gave me a good laugh.

When you think of US politicians: think of the guy who owns the biggest used car dealership in Podunkville, Midwest.

That's your average US politician. Generally: the scummiest, griftiest jerk who happened to get lucky. Generally by inheritance as building the business takes too much energy to screw around with national politics. Not somebody smart. Not somebody moral. Think SBF but no education and knowledge whatsoever.

Is that person that cheap? Yah, sure, you betcha.

[Zigurd → rany_]

Buying politicians, other than the ones that are in the headlines every day, is astonishingly cheap.

[mikeyouse → lolinder]

FWIW, Intel is a Premier Member of RISC-V International;

https://riscv.org/members/

Doesn't negate their profit motive in having the world slow down RISC-V implementation but seems worth noting.