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I don’t think it’s really this simple. Palantir is a major government contractor that enables it to be more tech savvy. It’s embedded through hundreds of teams
by basket_horse 9mo ago
I don’t think it’s really this simple. Palantir is a major government contractor that enables it to be more tech savvy. It’s embedded through hundreds of teams / agencies. You can’t remain a credible partner if you play morality police on every workflow. Palantir has worked through multiple administrations of both parties and have to support whoever is in power to have a seat at the table.
Ultimately the question is just: would you prefer to have a competent or incompetent government?
Otherwise you can agree or disagree with government policies, but that shouldn’t be directed at tech vendors, it should be directed at politicians and people in government / at the voting booth.
- chinathrow 9mo ago> Ultimately the question is just: would you prefer to have a competent or incompetent government? Is this a joke? Have you looked at the current administration?
- basket_horse 9mo agoHaha, true, although I meant competent from a tech perspective. The reason Palantir is even in the building is because the government is notoriously bad at technology. You need to separate government institutions ability to use tech from Trumps obvious buffoonery.
- rootusrootus 9mo agoI am thinking that whether I want a technically competent federal government depends entirely on who I think will be running it in the future. Right now the technical incompetence, such that it exists, works to our advantage.
- 3form 9mo ago> You can’t remain a credible partner if you play morality police on every workflow Sure. That's the price to pay for not setting morality aside. One that they're not willing to pay.
- basket_horse 9mo agoPalantir's ICE contract itself is 30 million over 2 years. Thats 15 mil a year, where this past year's total revenue was ~4B. Thats about .00375 of their revenue. I hardly think it's the literal contract money they care so deeply about.
- standardly 9mo agoHere's a better question, in line with your positioning... Is Palantir necessary to a "competent government" I think you know the answer to that.
- basket_horse 9mo agoThe government is notoriously terrible at tech. Are you debating that? Out of the top tech talent over the last 20 years, how many of them do you suppose work in FAANG vs the US government? I'm not saying Palantir specifically is necessary, but I do think finding avenues for Silicon valley to help the US government is necessary for them to be tech competent.