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I still don't follow why they would elect to install a cell repeater rather than fix the fire alarm. One of the two sounds like a good way to get in jail for e

I still don't follow why they would elect to install a cell repeater rather than fix the fire alarm. One of the two sounds like a good way to get in jail for embezzling public funds; I certainly don't like the idea of my public tax money going towards unapproved repeaters (if the employees pooled together their own money or something, more power to them). On the other hand, no judge/jury is going to convict for fixing the fire alarm whether the money was authorized or not.

GlenTheMachine 4y ago
"You have to learn why things work on a starship." The building itself is "owned" by a separate part of the government than the part that actually sits in it (and this is almost always true, no matter what part of the government you're talking about). As a consequence, getting the building fixed requires coordinating someone else's budget and personnel. Whereas installing unofficial cell repeaters can come out of your own budget, specifically because they're unofficial.
- notch656a 4y ago
  Yeah I get that the convoluted arms of .gov are entangled to the point they strangle themselves; what I don't understand is why can't the unofficial budget be used to fix the fire alarm? It's not like the fire alarm guy is gonna ask for the deed to the building. I could probably get a fire alarm guy to come to the local coffee shop if I wanted and no one would even know the difference.
  - lazide 4y ago
    Chances are there is a department in the other arm of the gov't whose job it is to manage those, and who is going to look bad if you fix it yourself, and they'll get angry. Seen it happen.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
lukas099 4y ago
It seems like an appropriate use of funds to me. The dude's working in a windowless office, it's not like they have hot tubs and strippers in there.
- notch656a 4y ago
  There are definitely worse uses of public funds.

GlenTheMachine 4y ago

"You have to learn why things work on a starship." The building itself is "owned" by a separate part of the government than the part that actually sits in it (and this is almost always true, no matter what part of the government you're talking about). As a consequence, getting the building fixed requires coordinating someone else's budget and personnel. Whereas installing unofficial cell repeaters can come out of your own budget, specifically because they're unofficial.

notch656a 4y ago
Yeah I get that the convoluted arms of .gov are entangled to the point they strangle themselves; what I don't understand is why can't the unofficial budget be used to fix the fire alarm? It's not like the fire alarm guy is gonna ask for the deed to the building. I could probably get a fire alarm guy to come to the local coffee shop if I wanted and no one would even know the difference.
- lazide 4y ago
  Chances are there is a department in the other arm of the gov't whose job it is to manage those, and who is going to look bad if you fix it yourself, and they'll get angry. Seen it happen.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]

lukas099 4y ago

It seems like an appropriate use of funds to me. The dude's working in a windowless office, it's not like they have hot tubs and strippers in there.

notch656a 4y ago
There are definitely worse uses of public funds.