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I've, for the past couple years, had an idea for a PAC specifically for tech issues. The PAC would also monitor and rate politicians stances on tech issues (I h

I've, for the past couple years, had an idea for a PAC specifically for tech issues. The PAC would also monitor and rate politicians stances on tech issues (I have a list of stances that would be part of the mission: net neutrality, privacy protections, data portability, and a few others). I've just never pushed very far with it.

thegayngler 11y ago
Push forward with it so the tech community can have a more full throated voice on issues involving the tech community. Politicians need to be afraid of losing elections.
declan 11y ago
You might like a pair of CNET columns I wrote 13 years ago calling for a PAC for tech issues: http://www.cnet.com/news/is-it-time-for-a-geekpac/ http://www.cnet.com/news/is-it-time-for-a-geekpac/ http://www.cnet.com/news/perspective-dont-get-mad-get-even/ http://www.cnet.com/news/perspective-dont-get-mad-get-even/ I interviewed Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, for one of the columns; whether you agree or disagree with him, he's an able advocate for his issues. Here's what he said: "One of the most important things the tech industry can do is a rating," Norquist says. "Every politician in this country wants to tell you that he's tech friendly...Pick 10 or 20 issues and give ratings. Then people who say they're tech friendly but they're not--there's a cost to that. You as a tech group don't have to advertise that. The candidate running against that person will promote it. It certainly puts the lie to some people running around who say they're tech friendly and don't have the records to back it up." I also wrote some Perl code to scrape Thomas and create tech voting guides for Wired and CNET with an interactive Javascript map. Unfortunately I think the Wired one has died in a redesign, and the CNET one no longer works either. :( http://www.cnet.com/news/technology-voter-guide-2006-grading-congress-on-high-tech-cred/ http://www.cnet.com/news/technology-voter-guide-2006-grading...
Nicholas_C 11y ago
Does there not already exist an organization that rates politicians on those issues? I would be very surprised. I would also be very interested in this. Will do some research.
- sinak 11y ago
  The hardest part is coming up with a thoughtful rubric. I agree that we need some sort of "internet voters guide" or rating system for existing legislators. If the two of you (or others) would like to work on it, shoot me an email (in profile). This is the sort of thing Taskforce.is would love to work on I think.

thegayngler 11y ago

Push forward with it so the tech community can have a more full throated voice on issues involving the tech community. Politicians need to be afraid of losing elections.

declan 11y ago

You might like a pair of CNET columns I wrote 13 years ago calling for a PAC for tech issues: http://www.cnet.com/news/is-it-time-for-a-geekpac/ http://www.cnet.com/news/is-it-time-for-a-geekpac/ http://www.cnet.com/news/perspective-dont-get-mad-get-even/ http://www.cnet.com/news/perspective-dont-get-mad-get-even/ I interviewed Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, for one of the columns; whether you agree or disagree with him, he's an able advocate for his issues. Here's what he said: "One of the most important things the tech industry can do is a rating," Norquist says. "Every politician in this country wants to tell you that he's tech friendly...Pick 10 or 20 issues and give ratings. Then people who say they're tech friendly but they're not--there's a cost to that. You as a tech group don't have to advertise that. The candidate running against that person will promote it. It certainly puts the lie to some people running around who say they're tech friendly and don't have the records to back it up." I also wrote some Perl code to scrape Thomas and create tech voting guides for Wired and CNET with an interactive Javascript map. Unfortunately I think the Wired one has died in a redesign, and the CNET one no longer works either. :( http://www.cnet.com/news/technology-voter-guide-2006-grading-congress-on-high-tech-cred/ http://www.cnet.com/news/technology-voter-guide-2006-grading...

Nicholas_C 11y ago

Does there not already exist an organization that rates politicians on those issues? I would be very surprised. I would also be very interested in this. Will do some research.

sinak 11y ago
The hardest part is coming up with a thoughtful rubric. I agree that we need some sort of "internet voters guide" or rating system for existing legislators. If the two of you (or others) would like to work on it, shoot me an email (in profile). This is the sort of thing Taskforce.is would love to work on I think.