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I think they probably don't, if only because government contracting is an absolutely massive pain and having been on both sides (early at a YC co and have worke

I think they probably don't, if only because government contracting is an absolutely massive pain and having been on both sides (early at a YC co and have worked in local and federal gov) I know that the gov side considers it an issue that they don't have a close enough relationship to tech startups. This was the whole rationale for launching DIU.mil, Afwerx, sofwerx, NavalX, etc. and championing OTAs which helped shorten the procurement process so they could get smaller companies interested edit: spelling error

01100011 4y ago
If you think supporting the government means working directly working with the government then, again, you don't know the game. Look at the B-2 bomber. Parts were procured via front companies to conceal the project. Do you think that's the only time where that has occurred? There are many layers to that onion and it is obfuscated for a variety of reasons. The least of which is that I don't think many rock star engineers would be happy if they thought their life's work was being used to fuel the murder machine.
- atlasunshrugged 4y ago
  I think I may be misunderstanding exactly what you're discussing then. Is the point in your original comment that the DOD uses off the shelf commercial technologies of all sorts for their work and that people who work at startups unknowingly contribute to this? I mean sure, but I can also tell you that the government struggles with buying products commercial off the shelf, this is again a reason you see the push for OTAs and collaborating more closely with the private sector instead of primes. Also, not sure if calling it "the murder machine" is necessary or useful for a discussion. Many people, myself included, believe that a strong military is necessary for the United States to ensure its own survival and apply its protective cordon around NATO, Korea, Japan, etc. and despite its flaws has probably led to much less overall destruction and death than if the U.S. had a very weak military and could not deter more global conflicts.
  - 01100011 4y ago
    > "the murder machine" Sorry this is my way of saying I think this is what many unsuspecting valley engineers, who in some cases lean quite leftish, would term it if they knew they were contributing to it. Case in point, I worked at a defense comm company and when a fellow engineer overheard a use case in drones they literally wept. That engineer left shortly thereafter for the valley. I use colorful language sometimes for my own amusement. My point is that not every piece used by the military industrial complex(specifically agencies with 3-9 letters) comes from standard procurement channels. Sure, when you're building F-35s or whatever. But this assumes every big government project is a big government project. Some are one-offs. I'm intentionally obtuse here for a myriad of reasons and I've said about all I can.
- outworlder 4y ago
  > Look at the B-2 bomber. Parts were procured via front companies to conceal the project. Do you think that's the only time where that has occurred? Are you saying they got off the shelf parts? Otherwise, they would be working with the government, even if the purpose of the components wasn't known.
  - 01100011 4y ago
    Possibly. Structural, mechanical and propulsion parts were probably custom. Some electronics parts were probably "COTS" mil-spec parts which were procured for imaginary projects or diverted from existing ones.

01100011 4y ago

If you think supporting the government means working directly working with the government then, again, you don't know the game. Look at the B-2 bomber. Parts were procured via front companies to conceal the project. Do you think that's the only time where that has occurred? There are many layers to that onion and it is obfuscated for a variety of reasons. The least of which is that I don't think many rock star engineers would be happy if they thought their life's work was being used to fuel the murder machine.

atlasunshrugged 4y ago
I think I may be misunderstanding exactly what you're discussing then. Is the point in your original comment that the DOD uses off the shelf commercial technologies of all sorts for their work and that people who work at startups unknowingly contribute to this? I mean sure, but I can also tell you that the government struggles with buying products commercial off the shelf, this is again a reason you see the push for OTAs and collaborating more closely with the private sector instead of primes. Also, not sure if calling it "the murder machine" is necessary or useful for a discussion. Many people, myself included, believe that a strong military is necessary for the United States to ensure its own survival and apply its protective cordon around NATO, Korea, Japan, etc. and despite its flaws has probably led to much less overall destruction and death than if the U.S. had a very weak military and could not deter more global conflicts.
- 01100011 4y ago
  > "the murder machine" Sorry this is my way of saying I think this is what many unsuspecting valley engineers, who in some cases lean quite leftish, would term it if they knew they were contributing to it. Case in point, I worked at a defense comm company and when a fellow engineer overheard a use case in drones they literally wept. That engineer left shortly thereafter for the valley. I use colorful language sometimes for my own amusement. My point is that not every piece used by the military industrial complex(specifically agencies with 3-9 letters) comes from standard procurement channels. Sure, when you're building F-35s or whatever. But this assumes every big government project is a big government project. Some are one-offs. I'm intentionally obtuse here for a myriad of reasons and I've said about all I can.
outworlder 4y ago
> Look at the B-2 bomber. Parts were procured via front companies to conceal the project. Do you think that's the only time where that has occurred? Are you saying they got off the shelf parts? Otherwise, they would be working with the government, even if the purpose of the components wasn't known.
- 01100011 4y ago
  Possibly. Structural, mechanical and propulsion parts were probably custom. Some electronics parts were probably "COTS" mil-spec parts which were procured for imaginary projects or diverted from existing ones.