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The only way that this would be "interesting" is if you started off with the assumption that everyone that works for the government is brain dead.
by dfc 13y ago
The only way that this would be "interesting" is if you started off with the assumption that everyone that works for the government is brain dead.
- mpyne 13y agoDoesn't everyone start with that assumption though?
- dfc 13y agoI hope not, it seems incredibly naive.
- mpyne 13y agoIt is, but the normal assumption I've always seen made of governments is that they are a collection of those who were too dumb to make it "in the real world". At least, until that assumption becomes inconvenient for whatever point the person was trying to make.
- dfc 13y agoDo you consider "wanting to give back" or "a commitment to service" or similar expressions of idealism a sign of complete stupidity?
- anigbrowl 13y agoI don't think mpyne considers people in government to be brain dead, but it's a popular stereotype here on HN - whenever people disapprove of some government policy they complain that government bureaucrats are too stupid to understand technology. See, for example, the Bitcoin foundation thread on the front page, or any court case whose outcome disappoints people.
- dfc 13y agoI am well aware of the naive sentiment that can be found on *any forum/list" (not just HN) regarding the "guberment." mpyne is on the mental list of usernames that triggers my "read this comment don't merely skim" reaction. If it was a comment by a username I did not recognize I probably would not have responded.
- anigbrowl 13y agoLikewise. I think we're all actually in agreement on this.
- mpyne 13y agoDo I personally? No, otherwise I would be at least partially stupid myself. I will say that many people simply don't think in terms of idealism, at least not to the extent they'd allow it to impact major life decisions. And many who are idealistic would still feel they can "change the world" more effectively outside the government than within...
- mr_luc 13y agoI'm on board with the assessment that government and government agencies have some truly brilliant, dedicated people working in them. However, some - maybe most - of those people work all day long to impede the effectiveness of others. And that's in the best governments. I agree that we shouldn't assume that government workers are hacks. But I think you can fairly label almost any government "stupid," when you consider how it behaves as an entity, regardless of the mixture of the people that act as its cells.
- Glyptodon 13y agoYeah, that's really why people go work for the DMV.
- sliverstorm 13y agoHoly crap, the government was able to figure out how to download and install bitcoin-qt!?! This was NOT on our list of possible scenarios!