By that same logic, we should deprive engineers of the ability to start companies, and push them instead towards AmaGooBookSoft. We would undoubtedly be increasing their wealth.

It's a very fair point.

I just wanted to note something about this that is part of a broader pattern of something I notice about HN posters. They will generally argue in favour of personal liberties, and even go so far to do it based on principle, but only when it comes to a case where liberties they personally care about are taken away. There is a contrast between this argument for liberty based on principle--which is by definition libertarian ideology (but note: not necessarily US Libertarian Party followers)--and the pattern of anti-libertarian rhetoric seen around here sometimes in threads where it comes up.

It seems perhaps there is a disconnect: people appear to generally care a lot about their liberties when suddenly it comes the ones they care about being taken away, and they will be argued for them based on principle. However When others generally want liberties they care about, then, that's apparently a different story.

Moreover, most people opinions are not systematically based on ideology - they are based on their own observations about what worked well in their opinion.