Hacker News Reader

Comment by latexr | Hacker News Reader

> This is the most important infrastructure project that we’ve had in this country for decades. Everyone agrees — this is non-partisan. Everyone knows we have to do it.

Considering the current political climate and rampant government cuts to important services, I very much doubt “everyone agrees” and that this is the best time to be planning such an important transition.

View on HN

Yeah, couldn't this easily split in a group supporting the FAA to implement a better system, versus a group trying to contract it out to the private sector? Before you know it, IBM* is printing money again. (* substitute with Evil Corp of your choosing)

It's going to be all Windows 11 of course. Including all the additional services nobody ever needed but now suddenly needs.

"Everyone agrees - this is non-partisan" is itself a piece of rhetoric designed to create that reality in a situation where it's in doubt. If everyone actually agreed you wouldn't need to emphasize it.

There's nothing to be gained by waiting. It's not like the transition will be easier or safer a year from now.

I don't know why you're being downvoted, I fully agree personally, my only concern at least would be that once the transition project gets started, if the wrong "loudest" vessels in government need to make some noise about overspending to distract from other things, maybe this project might be used as a scape goat.

I can see it already actually : "The FAA was working fine and yet they want these X billions to have shiny new silicon valley machines, paid to big tech by the tax payers"

As horrible as that sounds, I don't think many people would say that it couldn't happen.

Of course, that's why he had to say those words in the first place

And then what? Those words mean nothing to the people with the most power and motivation (or lack of care) to derail the whole thing.

It’s about as effective as placing a monkey in a porcelain shop then walking away while commenting loudly “Now now, it is very important none of the porcelain breaks, everyone knows it must remain intact”. The monkey doesn’t give a shit.

Butchering a proverb: “The best time to reorganise your porcelain store was before you bought a monkey. The second best time is after you sell the monkey.”

And then nothing? Do you seriously expect people to only say words that are effective at changing the world?

I sincerely don’t even know what you’re talking about right now. But it definitely isn’t related to my original argument. My point was about the task and the right time to tackle it, while you seem to be hung up on the words of the Secretary. The words are immaterial to this practical matter, as is any vague general concept of “changing the world”. I’m talking about this specific case, not building a philosophical thesis on the subject of improving humanity.

> Considering the current political climate and rampant government cuts to important services

Not to mention rampant anti-intellectualism

Yea, I'd be more worried that they're going to hire a 19 year old who knows nothing about tech or aviation, but who happens to be the son of a Heritage Foundation big shot, to head up the FAA tech modernization project. The scariest part of this administration is how unnecessary knowledge and expertise is when it comes to hiring the leaders.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com