Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology? 349
Alfred Lee Deon writes "Chris Patten, a former EU Commissioner, was speaking at the three-day conference in Nice, France, on European business and technology. 'Many politicians don't understand the technology issues that could affect government IT schemes,' he said.' Politicians have no sound grasp of technology issues — but politicians don't necessarily have a profound grasp of any issue.' He was especially critical of UK's government's ID card scheme — a scheme he felt would not achieve one of its possible objectives of making borders more secure."
Oh Please... (Score:5, Funny)
Although, attempts to Google "Nucular" have.... (Score:2)
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Well... (Score:5, Funny)
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You bet! When the poor are given food stamps, they have a wide variety of stores where they can redeem them. They aren't forced to go to lousy "we don't have to try at all because we are a monopoly" special government food stores. Why not do the same with education?
Someone's misreading you (Score:2)
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Except that they don't. Private schools have to actually do a good job or they don't stay open. Public schools can waste millions on their administrators and leave the students without toilet paper for years at a time. Public schools do not have to educate any students at all, and it's becoming rather clear that they don't really try all that hard. Private schools
They don't? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Well, there's what? 1,000,000+ Slashdot UIDs? There's easily more than 30,000
Re:Geography Skills (Score:4, Informative)
US reliance on mercenaries is at an all time high. Though the polically correct term is 'private security contractors'.
Note the war in Iraq is dragging on and there is no vested interest by mercenaries in peace. See also the 40 years war, a conflict in which the mercenary princes fueled the conflict to continue the wars.
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If any school is (by your definition) a "public school" just because it admits everyone, then none of these vouchers would go to private schools due to my "clause" that would require all private schools on vouchers to take everyone. Hey, they'd all go to public schools!
"Vaucher solution makes about as much sense as saying "Graduate students are smarter, so let's admit everybody to graduate school" or "Olympic runners are thin, let's send a
Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology? (Score:5, Interesting)
One of the fine senators from the US state of Utah, one Orrin Hatch, attempted to pass legislation that would allow organizations such as the RIAA to illegally infiltrate and destroy software and information on personal computers of the citizens whom he supposedly represented. It seems the corporations he actually represents find the legal process and the concept of innocent until proven guilty by your peers in a court of law to be too cumbersome for them to deal with.
The same senator recently had an article on his website where he supported the "technology" behind the CP80 (clean port 80) effort. Unfortunately the CP80 effort is not technology but rather is another legal effort to throw people in jail who refuse to adhere to the mores of a specific segment of society and block undesireable internet content from other countries, pretty much what China does to their citizens, perhaps the CP actually stands for China Protocol. No technology was developed for CP80 its just an effort to create laws based on the mores of a minority.
The irony is that this senator started his political carreer by pushing out an incumbent with the following critical stance in his election effort "Hatch criticized Moss's 18-year tenure in the Senate, saying that many Senators, including Moss, had lost touch with their constituents". This was the beginning of Hatch's political career which started in 1976!
burnin
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Maybe in Europe.. (Score:3, Funny)
We know this... BUT (Score:3, Insightful)
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That's a very defeatist attitude.
Support for ID cards is not complete even in the UK parliament. A significant percentage of the UK population is against them, and has contacted MPs to let them know.
On other technology matters individual activism can also make a difference. The Government seemed surprised and concerned by the general reaction to EU attempts to introduce software patents, and made active attempts to ensure the issues being raised were addressed and resolved. Admittedly there's a lot more the
New blood (Score:5, Insightful)
Populating the political landscape with technologically savvy folks will eventually happen as a matter of statistics, but right now we are dealing with lawyers, jocks and business people as politicians who it seems frequently rely on their staff to even read and answer their emails, much less actually possessing an understanding of more complex technological issues or their wider implications. However, with issues like the massive cost overruns and failure of projects like the FBIs agency wide computer system, loss of privacy and government intrusion into our lives sought by those in the Republican party (OT: what happened to the Republicans? They *used* to be about smaller government, less intrusion into our lives, lower taxes, and a strong military. They are now 180degrees off from all of those issues), we need a new generation of politicians who will be responsive to the people they represent, will understand some of the complex technological issues and all of the social, political and economic implications that technology brings.
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Our political parties in the United States have a long history of re-inventing themselves every generation to appeal to the masses and get more votes. It wasn't so long ago that conventional wisdom said "If you want to go to war, vote a Democrat into office." Personally, I think it was probably the (relat
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The simple answer is that Republicans were for smaller government because they were the minority party. A smaller federal government would give them and their constituency more power on the local level. Now that they control the entire federal government, they see that it is at the federal level where it is most efficient to advance their agenda.
Demographics have played a big part in the Republican's rise to power. They play big on the family va
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Actually, the Republican platform of smaller government was due more to the percieved 'common wisdom' that the Democrats never saw a social program they didn't li
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Yes, more people to get the treatment Al Gore and his 'You could say I helped the invent the Internet' quote did?
There are more profound problems in a country where a misquote can be made into that big a deal, or somebody changing one bloody opinion over a 5 year period can be branded a 'flip-flop'er (or rather, 'not retarded' as we others call it).
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Well, duh, the Republicans will get out of our lives as soon as they're done stopping the terrorists, just like they'll lower taxes when Enron & co get back on their feet and they don't need any more corporate welfare.
Come on. You just have to wait for the answers to come down the pipeline, like in Urinetown. If those people had just sit tight, the UGC would've implemented its long-term solution and the drought would've been over.
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I fear for the "new blood" because of people like Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is about 31 years old has fallen for pulling stupid tactics. He accused of the Democrats of covering up the Foley thing so they can leak it before the election. When an interviewer challenged him to prove it, he stammered then shoved it back at the interviewer to prove that the Democrats didn't do wh
Re:New blood (Score:4, Insightful)
If the Republicans really *are* for a stronger military, then it would be hard to imagine given the cutbacks in VA funding for veterans in the face of tens of thousands of returning vets with significant wounds and lost limbs from the current Middle East conflict. If the Republicans really *are* for a stronger military, then it would be hard to explain given the increasing movement towards giving military jobs out to private contractors (and paying the contractors more). If the Republicans really *are* for a stronger military, then it would be hard to convince the Pentagon who has much less control and power over it's own affairs after Donald Rumsfeld has gone through and consolidated control away from the current flags. If the Republicans really *are* for a stronger military, then it would be almost impossible to justify in the face of decreasing educational programs within the military.
As to taxes, the only structures the Republicans are for lower taxes on is large corporate America. As a middle class citizen, my taxes have actually gone up. Factor in higher inflation rates, higher fuel costs, higher healthcare costs, fewer tax deductions for the middle class and a stock market that is only now climbing back to where it was six years ago and where are you?
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giving grasp a bad name. (Score:5, Interesting)
Assigning a grade of "poor" to politicians' grasp of technology implies they have grasp, most don't. They (IMO) seemingly react to political winds, political windbags, and moneybags. I can't recall ever seeing a politician on TV, or elsewhere and thinking, "Gee, that politician really gets it!".
And, that's probably why we see laws passed and considered that continue to feed the wealthy and lock in their revenue streams. Technology has so much potential, it is almost mind-boggling what we could and should be doing with it, but instead (IMO) we've watched the train wreck that is our (and now others (BTW, an American here)) government and their bizarre understanding spawning laws that not only hinder technology, they are indecipherable (anyone understand fair use anymore at all?).
The future continues to look more locked in with probably one major provider of technology with a track record of bumbles and fumbles that boggle. Money talks, and politicians listen.
I used to see a future of broad interconnected technology, almost transcendental and transparent. Instead, I see vertical silos of incompatible rubbish that doesn't even mature before generation N+1 is released... the technology moves "forward", our ability to use and access to technology diminishes. (Anyone still confident HDTV, HD DVD, BluRay, etc. will have a soft landing with everyone up and running happily? It's been 10 years since HD, what gives?)
Ironically, glimpses of technology at its best were government funded, the internet is largely an outgrowth of ARPA and DARPA funding. Hubble is NASA. One (the internet) is on the cusp of being regulated to death, to the benefit of the powerful lobbying of powerful groups. The other (Hubble) is on the chopping block for monies in almost any other context would be paltry...
Another interesting lack of understanding manifested after the 2000 elections. The confident rush to technology and electronic voting paradoxically ended up being pointed at as the culprit for another "stolen" election by the very people who had demanded the technology.
There's still a lot of good technology, and there will be a lot more, but it won't be because of the good hands of government. I'm hoping I never see politicians encroach to the point of locking up and out the Open Source and Linux worlds, but I'm fearing I might (Trusted Computing anyone?).
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I have personally met Rick Boucher (D-VA) and spoken with him on the DMCA and the SSSCA (it's been long enough, I'm not sure if that's the right number of S's). He really does get it.
I suppose this might be classified as a political accuracy nazi post, since pointing out one of the very few exceptions isn't really salient to the argument.
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First, I totally agree with your post. But look at it from another angle: we don't "get it" when it is about political questions. Politicians and we slashdotters think in a different mindset: we mostly think "IT sec
Let me be the first to say (Score:2)
true.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't get your hopes up (Score:2)
And current legislation and the course we're steering actually promotes ignorance. We're getting closer ot laws where you are suspicious or even already a criminal for simply knowing how to use the tools in the way you (and not its manufacturer) want.
Are you sure about that? (Score:2)
Are you sure about that? Let me go home tonight, download the internet, and google it. [Ducks]
Download the Internet. early and often. (Score:2)
That's a pretty good idea. The thought of having my own personal Google that has the entire net archived*cough*CACHED sounds great. With all the increasing regulation in the US and the United Nations now making noises about their intent to destroy it, you never know when you might wake up one day to find the Net gone.
Politicians have a poor grasp of *everything*... (Score:5, Insightful)
No shit (Score:2)
Does the question even need to be posed? Recall Ted Stevens' absurd "It's not a truck, its a series of tubes" nonsense.
Or more recently, Bush admitting he sometimes uses 'The Google'.
IT is a speaciality, it is not a layman's field. Of course politicians know little about it. Unless they happen to be hobbyists, it really ought to be expected of politicians. In the same vein, I would not expect a doctor, welder or forest ranger to know much about IT.
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No shit (Score:5, Informative)
It seems the highest level of IT amongst UK politicians is the ability to post a stupid clip of yourself on YouTube. I believe Tony Blair doesn't even use email, and I'd be amazed of Gordon Brown can even switch a PC on, frankly.
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some of the claims given about the ID Cards Database is enough to make me laugh at times
Same here, although I'd use "cry" not "laugh".
I don't think you can just blame EDS either. There are many equally incompetent organisations performing similar services.
I too want to land a £10bn contract to fuck over an entire Government department and then just walk away going "Oh well."
Unsurprising, really (Score:4, Insightful)
A person who gets involved in politics may begin as an ideologue on one or more issues, but with the massive amount of issues that a politician must deal with, it's difficult if not impossible to keep up with them all. Thus, interest groups can influence pols by aligning with political parties to affect whatever outcomes they desire.
Unfortunately, as long as there is an expectation that a government should be involved in every issue, this is the way things will be. A perfectly reasonable solution to the problem would be to ignore these buffoons, and the problem will eventually go away. At the very least, vote for someone who will be ineffectual for a couple of years and routinely toss them out. Or, just vote for a drunken pirate [jameshillforcongress.com] for the laugh value.
Because, in the long run, we are all dead.
Lawyers (Score:4, Insightful)
john oliver (daily show) put it best (Score:5, Funny)
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Unfortunately, that is as it should be. (Score:2, Insightful)
For them to enact legislation pertaining to my profession, it is necessary for them to acquire a generalized
A bit misleading (Score:3, Interesting)
I would certainly love to have such polymaths in any parliament; I doubt you could find 3-400 such people that are actually competent to make decisions in any country though.
Politicians don't know the ins and outs of their field any more than CxO:s know the details of their company operations. They rely on having people that are experts in their field give the needed input. Is that perfect? No, but, unlike the alternative, it is actually possible to implement.
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The problem, as I see it, is it seems they take the advice from the experts and throw it out anyway. I find it difficult to believe anyone could be against net neutrality if they heard it explained rationally and clearly
You're right! (Score:2)
They're not supposed to. Sometimes they do anyway. (Score:5, Interesting)
What's suppsed to happen is that their hired staff is, or consults, experts in the field and briefs the politician on the issues and options.
We get the politicians we vote for, anyway. I wrote to my state legislator once about e-voting and he'd heard of GEMS: he wrote back to the effect "It's a nightmare. Access was never designed for that kind of application". Be certain I'm voting for him next time he's up.
I would agree (Score:2)
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More important: a good leader should be smart enough to ask for advice and listen to the experts he keeps around.
It shouldn't take much effort to find someone who can say "Well, no, Senator. The Internets are not really a series of tubes."
Re:They're not supposed to. Sometimes they do anyw (Score:2)
Well, who was it? On the off chance we live in the same state, I want to be sure to give him some consideration.
Arrogance ... (Score:2)
CC.
Grasp (Score:2)
Indeed. They don't need a firm grasp of any issue, because their whole goal is to get elected, not have views on any issue. Most of the false Dichotomies the modern western democratic political wars are over, are often over simplification of the issues.
The recent spat between Rush Bimbo and MJ Fox and the senate races in a couple of states is a great example. The issue is more complicated than "stem cell research" (without saying which of
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And this is a problem why?
Remember when the budget wasn't passed, and the government shut down for like two weeks? How many people really "noticed"? Government is over rated for the most part. People are self regulating for the most part. Government should only interfere when that breaks down.
"they really have no chance of winning"
Really? Jesse Ventura would argue
Don't forget the IT people! (Score:4, Insightful)
It's fantastic when slashdotters throw around terms like "censorship" when censorship is not really involved (thus proving said posters have no grasp on politics) but god fucking forbid a guy call it "the google".
It's sad how much we sit around here patting ourselves on the back for being so 31337 when the fact is that most of us are severely unqualified to do much more than post on slashdot.
I wonder if on some political site they're discussing how slashdotters have no grasp on politics.
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Thanks for the clarification. I too am annoyed by the misuse of the word. Most often it is (incorrectly) applied to describe the instance of a publisher using their discretion (and free speech rights) to choose not to publish something.
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Nope, censorship happens when anyone censors [m-w.com]. It just happens to be perfectly legal for anyone not the government to do it. Surely you have heard late night hosts make a comment along the lines "That will never make it past our censors"? They aren't referring to the government, they are referring to network employees, often operating under guidelines set by the network above and beyond FCC regulations.
So..... why does this matter? (Score:3, Insightful)
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Perhaps when you graduate highschool and move into the real world, you would understand that IT people are the problem solvers of the world. We are the soldiers of a digital age, armed with our minds, rapier like wits, and superior intellectual powers. We are the gatekeepers that master over the pleebs and serfs - the unclean, unwashed masses that merely plod on through life oblivious to us as we would be to any ext
This is news? (Score:2)
This should not surprise anyone.
If they understood technology (Score:2)
Not one IT person has been indicted but many IT persons in america in a publicly held is drowning in new paperwork for even the most trivial changes.
You're Surprised? (Score:2)
I'm not surprised at this at all. Let's just ignore all the obvious evidence for a moment (DMCA, "series of tubes", etc.) Politicians are just like CEOs and such in some respects. They both get paid to do big jobs that require knowing things. Knowing computers is NOT one of those things. This means that most of them have generic computer skills, but I bet if they need anything more complex than something simple they get an assistant/secretary/whoever to do it. There are people who know how to do that stuff
Politicians Have Poor Grasp of Technology... (Score:2)
SEA Grasps Politicians (Score:2)
Willie Sutton (Score:2)
Mod me funny... (Score:5, Funny)
Series of tubes, anyone?
Ha ha. That was funny.
The other side of the coin.. (Score:2)
The Sky Blue? (Score:2)
Windows prone to bugs?
Obvious statements as questions annoy readers?
It not lack of techies (Score:3, Insightful)
Sort of..... (Score:2)
Politicians have a poor grasp of reality.
Patten and ZDNetAsia (Score:2)
Patten, as the Last Governor of Hong Kong, is a celebrity of sorts here, but it would have been far more interesting to hear him explain at detail his thoughts on the issues and potential flaws with the UK ID card plan as former chief executive of a government with a mandatory ID card program.
Perhaps the powers that be should send Patten, now the Chancellor of Oxford
in other news (Score:2)
What about Al Gore? (Score:2, Interesting)
Politicians aren't supposed to know (Score:2)
I say we buy ourselves a congressman, too. I mean, if we all chip in, how expensive can a muppet be?
Re:Obviously... (Score:4, Insightful)
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That's why people are harsh on it - he used the wrong analogy, in the wrong situation, pushing an unpopular viewpoint.
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I think it's because he said it like this [youtube.com].
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No, he did not get everything correct, but it was a valiant effort. I think the most obvious problem was his improper use of terms. And I'm sure that if I were to try some political speaking and screwed up the terms, I'd receive the same or similar re
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Re:Snails and Politicians (Score:5, Funny)
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Love the SIG. Now I have both songs of this name going through my head. But you should fix the spelling.
Almost there.... (Score:2)
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Speak for yourself. I have about 50 customers (only drug dealers have "users") and there's a wide range of technical ability in there, from software developers who write drivers in their sleep to marketing folk who understand that they have a computer but that's about as far as they go.
Every one of those people brings something to the business in terms of expertise. I don't expect them to understand how to go about keeping systems running a