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Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

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Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#11

Post by philip1209 »

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects millions without much glamor.

If you think healthcare.gov was a mess, in the USA there are more branches of federal government, 50 state governments, and countless local governments whose technology is inadequate for serving its constituents.

Things like healthcare, visas, and electricity all rely on aging software projects. Yet, some of these systems don't have strong backups, are not automated, and may run on infrastructure like Windows XP. Some parts are ticking timebombs in terms of security and upkeep costs.

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#12

Post by mintplant »

hahla wrote: post #7
cjrjfufjdvfhz wrote: post #2

You don't get to be one of the largest corporations in the world without co-opting the government in your favor. This is exactly what ancaps are missing.

Ancaps really? I'm sure Google is co-opting with the government in some sense, but you obviously have to at that scale, but what kind of tin foil hat do you need to start believing ancaps are missing.

I believe cjrjfufjdvfhz is not saying that ancaps are involved in some sort of scheme but rather that anarcho-capitalist ideology is deficient in that it does not take this idea into account ("You don't get to be one of the largest corporations in the world without co-opting the government in your favor").

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#13

Post by theDoug »

philip1209 wrote: post #11

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects…

I don't feel this gets enough focus. When you're working at a place of high prestige and global impact, you're going to want to keep that up where you skills can continue to benefit many (whether your original employer is one or ther other).

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#14

Post by shard972 »

cjrjfufjdvfhz wrote: post #2

You don't get to be one of the largest corporations in the world without co-opting the government in your favor. This is exactly what ancaps are missing.

I thought this is what ancaps always say, that government allows companies an avenue to protect themselves from competition?

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#16

Post by alexose »

philip1209 wrote: post #11

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects…

Thanks for this. In my experience at USDS over the last year, it's absolutely true.

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#17

Post by TheSageMage »

philip1209 wrote: post #11

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects…

So I'm a software engineer in SF who would love to work on projects like you mentioned. Where do I look and what do I look for?

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#19

Post by Thaxll »

philip1209 wrote: post #11

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects…

The problem with gov is that everything is slow has hell / old tech on top of corporate contracts with the like of Oracle / SAP. I don't expect to improve things there because of all thoses problems + layers of bureaucracy.

Re: Google employees have enjoyed revolving door during Obama administration

#20

Post by philip1209 »

TheSageMage wrote: post #17
philip1209 wrote: post #11

I met some of the former Googlers working for the USDS. They seemed to be many pre-IPO SREs who decided that improving government was more important than being an LP at a VC fund. They were motivated by getting tens of millions of people healthcare, and along the way they encountered huge challenges - like figuring out how to reconcile VA and Pentagon records. Their passion was inspiring, and the work they do affects…

So I'm a software engineer in SF who would love to work on projects like you mentioned. Where do I look and what do I look for?

I'm not associated with USDS, but email me (see profile) and I'll get you an intro.
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