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Is the Federal Government the Most Interesting Tech Startup For 2009?
With all of the recent focus on technology and the promises to continue "getting stuff done" by the US government, Techdirt's Masnick suggests that they might just be the most interesting tech startup to watch this year. "But, of course, talk is cheap (especially in politics). And, while Chopra (and Vivek Kundra, the government's CIO) both actually have a nice track record of accomplishing these sorts of goals in their past jobs, the proof is in what's actually getting done. We'd already mentioned at least one success story with the IT dashboard at USASpending.gov, but can it continue? I have to admit, a second thing that impressed me about Chopra was that, even with such a success, he didn't focus on it. The fact that he got together such a site in such a short period of time is impressive enough, and while he mentioned it in his talks, most of them were much more focused not on what he'd already done, but on what he was going to do — and the plans all seemed quite achievable.
No company in their right mind would pay 18 million for a website. There are many many websites that get more page views are were made for much less. To consider that website a success is a joke.
Just because you are wrong and I called you out on it doesn't mean I am a Troll.
Obama's smarter than you. He gets taxpayers to foot the bill.
And the bully "taxes" your lunch money. Does that mean that he is smarter than you too?
Oh, wow, a straw-man!.. Let's see...
There are a few things the Federal Government ought to be running, but it was already running all of them before the Federal Income Tax was (re-)introduced in 1913 — the highest rate being 7% on incomes above $500,000 ($10 million 2007 dollars).
The beast has been growing ever since and has reached scary dimensions by now. It is even trying to consume our health care now — whether it succeeds at that or not, that it is even trying is bad enough. It simply defies all comprehension, that — after the decades of mediocrity, outright failures, and spectacular cost over-runs of highways, Postal Service, Public Schools, MediCare — anybody still holds the opinion, that a Government taking over a part of life from private sector will improve it...
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Right. Besides the aqueducts, medicine, roads, and irrigation, the bully has given us nothing!
Right on, comrades of the United Front of Judea!
Except, of course, the water companies are private and the century of regulation is the only reason they are as inefficient as they are. US Interstate Highway system is the reason that the private train industry went bankrupt and is now constantly on the brink of demise. And the tight AMA controls is the reason for the shortage of doctors.... The line from the life of Brian might be a good argument to defend imperialism, but it's hardly a good argument to defend a strong government regulation that your slight of hand attempted here.
Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.