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Join the U.S. Digital Service

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Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#161

Post by Loughla »

14113 wrote: post #135
vpeters25 wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had managers yell at me when at the sprint review meeting we realize we were going the wrong way and decide to scrap some of the work of the last few weeks... Imagine politicians with a stake in the project's failure hearing that: they will go full Benghazi on it.

Better a few weeks than a couple of years and millions of funding.

Not in an election year.

If it's either a failed public project, or spending millions of dollars (that can be spun as creating jobs), what do you think they're going to take?

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#162

Post by kmunoz »

technologia wrote: post #32
tdicola wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually the team that fixed healthcare.gov got quite a bit of rockstar treatment (deservedly so) and were even on the cover of TIME magazine (sadly the article is behind a paywall now I think: http://time.com/10228/obamas-trauma-team/ ). I think the guy that lead them is now the director of the US Digital Services too: http://www.wired.com/2014/08/the-white-house-dickerson/

I think he might have been referencing the initial build team.

That's not this team.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#163

Post by jkestner »

vpeters25 wrote: post #131
wpietri wrote: post #6

I have met some of the 18F folks here in San Francisco, and I have gradually become convinced that there is a lot of substance to this effort. People, apparently including people at the highest levels, recognize that information technology has made enormous leaps in the private sector, and they are serious about helping government catch up. One of the most interesting bits to me was something said by Todd Park, a for…

I had managers yell at me when at the sprint review meeting we realize we were going the wrong way and decide to scrap some of the work of the last few weeks... Imagine politicians with a stake in the project's failure hearing that: they will go full Benghazi on it.

Just sprinkle some remote coders among their states, and they'll double down. Works for Lockheed Martin.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#164

Post by jkestner »

beerbajay wrote: post #73
bluthru wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'll hate them even more: They're one reason why taxes are more complicated than they should/could be. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/04/auto...

Here in Sweden you receive a fully-filled-in tax declaration from the Tax Office. For 99% of people with normal jobs, all you have to do is confirm the declaration on their website OR by sending an SMS OR by calling a telephone number OR by using their app.

California piloted ReadyReturn doing the same thing 10 years ago. People who chose to use it loved it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyReturn

Anyone used it? I guess it's now been rolled into the main filing system.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#165

Post by wil421 »

beerbajay wrote: post #73
bluthru wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'll hate them even more: They're one reason why taxes are more complicated than they should/could be. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/04/auto...

Here in Sweden you receive a fully-filled-in tax declaration from the Tax Office. For 99% of people with normal jobs, all you have to do is confirm the declaration on their website OR by sending an SMS OR by calling a telephone number OR by using their app.

Its a lot easier when your entire country is less than 10 million.

In the US, we pay state and federal tax so there may be difference in what you can deduct from one another. For example I didn't deduct my Health Care premiums from Federal because I used the standard deduction. Because of this I was able to deduct the premiums from my State taxes.

This is why we can't just confirm the declaration, too many variables at play someone could use for a deduction.

The telephone thing sounds great too bad its probably too security conscious to allow those methods.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#166

Post by imjustsaying »

nadams wrote: post #158
BrandonY wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no expertise here, but here's my understanding: 1) Yes, especially if you've worked for some big name, non-government tech companies. 2) Absolutely not. The salary is MISERABLE compared to what you could get in the private sector. That's the real problem. The government desperately needs world class software engineers, but the private sector can effectively buy them all away. Who would try and fix the busted o…

> The salary is MISERABLE compared to what you could get in the private sector. That all depends. Many comp sci students are brainwashed to think that if a salary isn't at least 100k then it's not worth their time. The fact is that it depends on location and cost of living. For example - if you get hired to work for Google in their HQ in CA then you are guaranteed to get at least 100k salary. However, 90% of that wil…

I find it extremely hard to believe that you would be unable to spend less than $90,000 a year on food and rent in any city in America assuming you have a modicum of financial restraint.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#167

Post by panzagl »

wallawe wrote: post #56
wpietri wrote: post #6

I have met some of the 18F folks here in San Francisco, and I have gradually become convinced that there is a lot of substance to this effort. People, apparently including people at the highest levels, recognize that information technology has made enormous leaps in the private sector, and they are serious about helping government catch up. One of the most interesting bits to me was something said by Todd Park, a for…

That's just the thing - I don't think 'playing it safe' is the goal in Washington, or at least not the only one. As is, the goal for contractors is to stay on a project as long as possible, earning more money over a longer period of time. Waterfall is a perfect excuse to do just that.

'Playing it safe' is also the goal of the gov't civilian managers of those projects- they have a promotion schedule to hit and having a 'failure' on their resume jeopardizes that. And since they're only going to be there 2-3 years, the goal is just to keep things propped up until they rotate out.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#168

Post by logfromblammo »

chiph wrote: post #130
nether wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try applying for a hiking permit. Some CA ranger stations take only snail mail or, wait for it, fax.

> hiking permit Wait, what? Is this like a yearly state park pass? Or is this paid every time you want to go take a walk in the woods?

If you get a yearly state park pass, you're probably walking on the trails no more than 10 km from the parking lot at their furthest points, and leaving before the park closes for the night.

If you get a hiking permit, you are probably carrying a tent. The permits would allow the park management to limit and track the number of people out in the park wilderness areas at any given time, and prevent overuse or overly inconsiderate visitors. The permit application process may also discourage casual or inexperienced campers, who may have insufficient skill to explore backcountry trails without injury--including bear-related injuries.

Re: Join the U.S. Digital Service

#170

Post by thissideup »

joelanman wrote: post #105

I work for the UK Government Digital Service - my views don't necessarily represent my employer. There are lots of comments here around the idea of whether you would work for a government if you disagreed with their political views. What I love about working on GDS projects is the potential to improve so many people's lives. People often don't have a choice when it comes to interacting with government - it's often a…

Yeah but if you disagree with something the government is doing, why would it be any better if you're making it easier?

This is exactly what scientists who commit war-crimes would say. I am not accusing you of anything like that but that's the logical extreme.

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