4 ms·

> just screams "government work" Or the government not having enough funds to upgrade its systems since the 80s when storage space came at a significant premiu

> just screams "government work" Or the government not having enough funds to upgrade its systems since the 80s when storage space came at a significant premium (or not making modernizing IT systems a policy/budgetary priority)

wolverine876 5y ago
... because the same people who scream 'government work' also vote to cut taxes.
- h0l0cube 5y ago
  Yeah, "... but see how incompetent they are?!!1! Why give them more money?!!1!" Not to say that throwing money at government solves problems either. A competent administration is needed also to instil confidence in voters that they are actually committed to solving problems. Not sure what the situation is like in NJ
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    The solution is to support and elect good people. If you don't maintain your house, your house will leak and corrode - no matter who else you blame or what excuses you make.
    - h0l0cube 5y ago
      I agree, but I guess it's hard if there's no good options up for election.. or if they promise one thing and do another. Its particularly the case with winner-takes-all democratic systems. I think representational democracies do better at reflecting the desires of voters, otherwise it's just the incumbent pandering to swing voters
      - wolverine876 5y ago
        To be completely frank, I hear this from many people and I think they are excuses. I see plenty of successes, including where I live. It's not at all perfect, but a lot can get done. The biggest obstacle is the people standing on the side saying nothing can be done - while other people are doing the work.
        h0l0cube 5y ago
        Ah, I'm not advocating complacency or inaction, but I agree, things can change even in a flawed democracy, just much slower, and also this can disenfranchise voters. In completely dysfunctional and corrupt government, I think the only option would be to hit the streets en masse, but I don't think NJ is at that point

wolverine876 5y ago

... because the same people who scream 'government work' also vote to cut taxes.

h0l0cube 5y ago
Yeah, "... but see how incompetent they are?!!1! Why give them more money?!!1!" Not to say that throwing money at government solves problems either. A competent administration is needed also to instil confidence in voters that they are actually committed to solving problems. Not sure what the situation is like in NJ
- wolverine876 5y ago
  The solution is to support and elect good people. If you don't maintain your house, your house will leak and corrode - no matter who else you blame or what excuses you make.
  - h0l0cube 5y ago
    I agree, but I guess it's hard if there's no good options up for election.. or if they promise one thing and do another. Its particularly the case with winner-takes-all democratic systems. I think representational democracies do better at reflecting the desires of voters, otherwise it's just the incumbent pandering to swing voters
    - wolverine876 5y ago
      To be completely frank, I hear this from many people and I think they are excuses. I see plenty of successes, including where I live. It's not at all perfect, but a lot can get done. The biggest obstacle is the people standing on the side saying nothing can be done - while other people are doing the work.
      - h0l0cube 5y ago
        Ah, I'm not advocating complacency or inaction, but I agree, things can change even in a flawed democracy, just much slower, and also this can disenfranchise voters. In completely dysfunctional and corrupt government, I think the only option would be to hit the streets en masse, but I don't think NJ is at that point