It's good to know that at least some people in the US tech industry have integrity.

Agreed

I'm sorry, but this comes across to me (obviously, from my first two words, also a Canadian) as saying, "I don't want the inconvenience of doing anything, but I'll pay some money to assuage my guilt".

You may not be able to vote, but as a resident you can write (on paper!) to your representatives to express your concerns.

You can get in touch with grassroots movements that are doing things (not just protesting!) to resist the rise of fascism.

You can look at ways to harness your clearly exceptional business/technical talents. Improve communications privacy for the public? Crowdsource information about ICE/CBP movements and activities? Expose people or corporations who are collaborating with undemocratic practices?

From your vantage point, you would have a much better idea what options are available.

Yes, there are personal risks and costs, but you have chosen to live in a society that has been creeping slowly but visibly towards authoritarianism. You have benefitted handsomely from your position, maybe it's time to pay back the people who clean your offices and pick your produce for (often less than) minimum wage.

It is concerning that half of their beliefs are fundamentally anti-American.

>people should be free to move and pursue opportunity anywhere they’d like

This taken to its natural consequence is that nation states should not exist. A country can't decide who comes into their country? Why? A nation state is a state of its people, and if those people decide that they want zero immigration, or only 5000 immigrants a year, then that is prerogative. This is also a view born of extreme privilege. They are obviously not in the position where they ever had to worry that an immigrant would go and out compete them for their job. Or that a large influx of poor, low education immigrants would degrade the quality of their child's schools.

> free speech is a great thing, but I am not an absolutist

The enlightenment happened, those ideas were good. The United States is founded upon the principles of the Enlightenment, this is why we have the bill of rights and a democratic government. Free Speech is a great thing... when its within the acceptable bounds that I have determined.

> I don’t love the idea of people being able to make split second decisions/mistakes that could end someone else’s life (eg guns, texting while driving, nuclear weapons)

I can pick up a rock and kill someone. The second amendment, and guns, means that is easier to defend myself and my family. Or that a smaller, weaker person can defend themselves and their property against a larger stronger person. They are the great equalizer.

Anyone living in the United States should be forced to read the Federalist Papers, The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the writings of Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Paine, Hume, Aristotle and Cicero until it sets in what they are opting into.

Eric, I just learned you didn't just study in The Netherlands; you got Dutch roots as well! (Berends being a Dutch last name.) Why don't you come back to The Netherlands? Move Pebble, Inc. to a suitable country. Mozilla, Inc. may follow, and a plethora of other neat companies with decent core values. I foresee it will be good on your sales, since you'd fit the 'buy European' lists. The USA is becoming a fascist country, and I believe you can do more good from here, allowing us to avoid big tech with your company. Because sooner or later, you're going to have to comply with the authorities with your company, and as human being. In such situation, you're better off on the good side of the pool, and yes: it is a privilege to do so, but that doesn't make it wrong.