4 ms·

The government should make open-source software, paying developers handsomely to do so. I know I live in cloud-cuckoo fantasy land here, but I know plenty of d

by untog 6y ago

The government should make open-source software, paying developers handsomely to do so. I know I live in cloud-cuckoo fantasy land here, but I know plenty of developers that would love to work on projects for the civic good, but they don't because they also want to earn good money so that they can live comfortably, raise a family easily, etc. etc. So they go and work for Facebook and Google, etc. There's an inbuilt assumption that government can't or shouldn't ever compete with tech giants for salary. But look at the incredible sums of money wasted on contracts with borderline useless consulting shops. You can't tell me that money wouldn't be better spent on hiring smart developers and project managers and just getting stuff done. I know it'll never happen, but a developer can dream. There's no actual reason why it couldn't.

zapita 6y ago
For what it’s worth I agree 100% with you.
jeffbee 6y ago
There are USDS and 18F, that were initially populated with ex-Googbooksoftlix engineers. Of course, everyone with a brain left USDS after Trump was elected. https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/youll-never-be-the-same-again-dc5b16b84ba9 https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/youll-never-be-th... https://www.fastcompany.com/40528581/obama-federal-it-fix-it-shop-18f-has-shrunk-by-more-than-half-under-trump https://www.fastcompany.com/40528581/obama-federal-it-fix-it...
hanniabu 6y ago
That's the ideal situation, but anybody that has worked in the public sector can tell you the outcome. You'd have an office full of incompetent people that are making $150k/yr just because they're a friend or relative of someone. That's a really big problem in government and there's no simple solution here. Even if you started doing background checks and not allowing partners/relatives of current employees to be hired, they would just get picked up as favors by other districts. A sort of friend hiring exchange program if you will.
- untog 6y ago
  It’s not like that doesn’t happen in the private sector as well, though. Literally can’t count the number of top execs you see parachuted into top jobs because they’re friends with the CEO.

by untog 6y ago

zapita 6y ago

For what it’s worth I agree 100% with you.

jeffbee 6y ago

There are USDS and 18F, that were initially populated with ex-Googbooksoftlix engineers. Of course, everyone with a brain left USDS after Trump was elected. https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/youll-never-be-the-same-again-dc5b16b84ba9 https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/youll-never-be-th... https://www.fastcompany.com/40528581/obama-federal-it-fix-it-shop-18f-has-shrunk-by-more-than-half-under-trump https://www.fastcompany.com/40528581/obama-federal-it-fix-it...

hanniabu 6y ago

That's the ideal situation, but anybody that has worked in the public sector can tell you the outcome. You'd have an office full of incompetent people that are making $150k/yr just because they're a friend or relative of someone. That's a really big problem in government and there's no simple solution here. Even if you started doing background checks and not allowing partners/relatives of current employees to be hired, they would just get picked up as favors by other districts. A sort of friend hiring exchange program if you will.

untog 6y ago
It’s not like that doesn’t happen in the private sector as well, though. Literally can’t count the number of top execs you see parachuted into top jobs because they’re friends with the CEO.