Lately I spend my days daydreaming about the perfect social contract. Noam Wasserman writes in [Rich vs. King](https://www.noamwasserman.com/rich-versus-king-the-core-concept/) that founders have to constantly make decisions which are either optimizing for their own control of the company, or giving up control in order to maximize the dollar value of their equity. After all, a founder may not be the "money optimal" CEO at all stages of a company. While this frame is somewhat distasteful, it has helped me uncover truths about my values and [[values make tough choices simple]]. I didn't start a company to get rich, I started it in the pursuit of happiness - to continuously apply taste while building something useful. Ok, so king... but what makes a good king? [[Noblesse oblige]] would say that privilege entails responsibility. Responsibility to do what is best for people who put their trust in you. but king of what? How about a place that has private community spaces, flexible identity, freedom of thought, low bureaucracy, no billboards -- a digital state that respects human agency.