Google, once disdainful of lobbying, now a master of Washington influence

Re:Google, once disdainful of lobbying, now a master of Wash... by twoodfin on Sunday April 13, 2014 @02:15PM (#7582226)

We all know how many people get jobs because of connections...

No, I don't think we all know this. Most of the people I know did not get jobs through family connections. I suspect a trend analysis would show that the number of high-income workers who achieved their position through nepotism or some other form of non-achievement-based social connection is declining, not rising.

We're social animals, and "connections" will always be valuable. I don't see any evidence that D.E. Shaw treated Wyden's son differently because they wanted something out of his father.

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Re:Google, once disdainful of lobbying, now a master of Wash... by rayiner on Sunday April 13, 2014 @02:30PM (#7582306)

Ron Wyden is a Stanford graduate. His son Adam is a graduate of Wharton undergrad and Columbia business school. Plenty of people similarly situated get a DE Shaw internship who don't have a senator for a father. I'm sure the name didn't hurt, but what kind of favor can be cashed in offering someone's son an internship he's qualified for anyway?

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[deleted]

Re:Google, once disdainful of lobbying, now a master of Wash... by rayiner on Sunday April 13, 2014 @02:54PM (#7582418)

Like I said, I'm sure the name helped. But lots of Wharton undergrads get internships with DE Shaw or similar firms over the summer. Firms like DE Shaw hire dozens of interns each summer. They use their summer programs to meet their entry level hiring needs.

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Re:Google, once disdainful of lobbying, now a master of Wash... by judk on Sunday April 13, 2014 @07:47PM (#7583701)

Of course, his Wharton admission was not independent of family status. It can benhard to separate government corruption from general privilege, though.

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