I also read it, and I think you summarize it well. I'd like to add that the author's main aim seems to be in revealing a strong technocratic tendency underlying O'Reilly's thought. The technocracy is shown for example in the naive assumption that political decisions can be calculated algorithmically with enough data and intelligent algorithms. According to the author, O'Reilly hides the political claim that small government is good behind technological newspeak about governments providing only the essential APIs for the private sector to build on. In coining new terms for old ideas he is ignoring the vast literature of political and philosophical thought discussing these matters and gaining the support of hackers for a political agenda. And, most importantly, dismissing tough ethical and political decisions by claiming that government is some kind of an optimization problem.
I'm not sure if he convinced me regarding O'Reilly specifically (haven't read O'Reilly enough), and I agree with others about the repetition and bad style ("crazy talk"?). But some actual thoughts were hidden in there.
I'm not sure if he convinced me regarding O'Reilly specifically (haven't read O'Reilly enough), and I agree with others about the repetition and bad style ("crazy talk"?). But some actual thoughts were hidden in there.