A case for more engineers in politics

[Parodite]

Given the derangement syndromes raging in our political systems and the tabloid MSM, especially in the regressed left but not only, it appears that people with an engineering background could help cure the mess, get things back on track. But then they must have the ambition to dwell in the swamp, willing to deal with politicians who have a background in law, persuasion, marketing... or worse, in the humanities "sciences". And worst.. who have a blind loyalty to their Red or Blue tribe and will never think nor act outside their tribal boxes.

Imagine Richard Feynman would evaluate current politics and economics. He would find more than just some shitty o-rings. Maybe he would recommend psycho-therapy for starters?

Appendix F - Personal observations on the reliability of the Shuttle
by R. P. Feynman

[noddy]

I doubt it.

being fact based doesnt help with human politics, which is the art of horse trading and prioritizing facts , usually with people you dislike fighting you all the way.

engineers are crap at that, which is why you have marketing and management doing that work for them.

[Simple Minded]

I think noddy nailed it, generally speaking, personality wise.

But it also depends on the group objective. Is the goal to actually solve a problem, because that is what one is getting paid to do? Or is the goal to get paid to be a "problem solver?" One must be careful not to work one's self out of a job you know.

Having worked for a private company that depended on govt contracts, where the goal is billing the govt man-hours to boost the bottom line, I've seen a room full of engineers spend days arguing over a paragraph that only contains 150 words, just as well as any group of professional politicians, a humanity professors, lawyers, or theologians.

[noddy]

"... well actually"

[Simple Minded]

"... well actually"

".... theoretically speaking, of course."

[noddy]

"... well actually"

".... theoretically speaking, of course."

"..however in my experience"

[Simple Minded]

"... well actually"

".... theoretically speaking, of course."

"..however in my experience"

"Yes, of course.... but, in theory, theory and practix are the same. In practix, they're not."

[noddy]

my life with engineers has been far too much semi-autistic squabbling over pointless details , laden with anecdotes.

the popular image might be ruthless fact based people but the reality is lots of borderline goat slaughtering superstition about doing things certain ways or it all goes to lavender.

DONT TOUCH THAT, ITS WORKING.

[Simple Minded]

my life with engineers has been far too much semi-autistic squabbling over pointless details , laden with anecdotes.

the popular image might be ruthless fact based people but the reality is lots of borderline goat slaughtering superstition about doing things certain ways or it all goes to lavender.

DONT TOUCH THAT, ITS WORKING.

You been working with the white collar engineers. Totally different breed than the blue collar engineers who grew up on farms.

White collar: "hey! that's my turf!"
Blue collar: "Let's git-r-done!"

[noddy]

nar, both types.

they just have different goats that need slaughtering at different stages of the project

[Simple Minded]

nar, both types.

they just have different goats that need slaughtering ant different stages of the project

"...there's hard ware, and then there's software......"

[noddy]

everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.

[noddy]

an engineer makes a potato chip.

SzgPOJPTo_A

[Miss_Faucie_Fishtits]

First step in being a politician is having a cause or issue to rally around. Workplace policies that single out and harass engineers just for doing what engineers do is one of them. Another is the willingness to be a name and a face that sticks to principle and doesn't shy away from conflict. In other words, when the contention turns into struggle. Case in point, James Damore:



https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/james ... ervatives/

He's not yet a politician though that might be a logical step in the process......

[Simple Minded]

everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.

What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.

Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.

[Simple Minded]

an engineer makes a potato chip.

SzgPOJPTo_A

I've noticed in the Brit motorcycle magazines that everyone is an engineer, and all fiddling/tinkering/masturbating is called engineering.

Over here, we call these guys machinists.

Just think what they could do with a 5 axis CNC milling machine..... and a lot of beer to use as, er, um, coolant.

[Simple Minded]

First step in being a politician is having a cause or issue to rally around. Workplace policies that single out and harass engineers just for doing what engineers do is one of them. Another is the willingness to be a name and a face that sticks to principle and doesn't shy away from conflict. In other words, when the contention turns into struggle. Case in point, James Damore:



https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/james ... ervatives/

He's not yet a politician though that might be a logical step in the process......

Yep. Another data point for noddy's Nostrum.

[Simple Minded]

"We" have a f**kin drinking song!!!!

That's always good start to being respected as a humon bean.

02lyCDaycfw

[Parodite]

I doubt it.

being fact based doesnt help with human politics, which is the art of horse trading and prioritizing facts , usually with people you dislike fighting you all the way.

engineers are crap at that, which is why you have marketing and management doing that work for them.

But more engineers means..more..diversity!

People with technical backgrounds and who are used working with facts or at least understand and appreciate the scientific method, who have less tendency to have their brains go all boiling over ideology and don't have surplus emotion in my view need to be part of all discussion and participate at all levels of decision making.

I know that Aspergeritis is more prevalent in the it/tech environment, but even one or two serious Asperger cases are a great added value to any team!



Who doesn't like that guy.

The higher up in the hierarchy the more dangerous it is to have only one type of personality and skill set making the most and far reaching decisions. The best managers I know/encountered usually had a rich and diverse skill set, while at the same time being good psychologists.

[noddy]

everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.

What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.

Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.

ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake Extract

[noddy]

I doubt it.

being fact based doesnt help with human politics, which is the art of horse trading and prioritizing facts , usually with people you dislike fighting you all the way.

engineers are crap at that, which is why you have marketing and management doing that work for them.

But more engineers means..more..diversity!

People with technical backgrounds and who are used working with facts or at least understand and appreciate the scientific method, who have less tendency to have their brains go all boiling over ideology and don't have surplus emotion in my view need to be part of all discussion and participate at all levels of decision making.

Ive noticed the opposite in my time in electronics and computing

never has any field been more subjected to religious fanboyism on every level , everyone making a god out of the technology they know and understand and being suspicious of learning something new from the ground up.

obviously in amongst all that their are some very clever people with a huge capacity for learning but they are relatively rare so no sensible engineer builds a system that *expects* that

in my country you only get to start becoming a politician once you have taken over your local branch - its not a game for the thoughtful or pleasant, its a game for the aggresive and ruthless

[Simple Minded]

everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.

What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.

Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.

ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake Extract

Hell, I'd buy that sh*!!

Don't tell anyone, but it is really just a Singapore Sling with some viagra and ape pheromones mixed in......

"I'm not just going to find a Yowie, I gonna have sex with him...... or her!"

[noddy]

everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.

What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.

Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.

ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake Extract

Hell, I'd buy that sh*!!

Don't tell anyone, but it is really just a Singapore Sling with some viagra and ape pheromones mixed in......

"I'm not just going to find a Yowie, I gonna have sex with him...... or her!"

the proof is presented, engineers are problem solvers.

[Simple Minded]

the proof is presented, engineers are problem solvers.

Told ya! Thanks for the dopamine hit. Life is good!

[Simple Minded]

Ive noticed the opposite in my time in electronics and computing

never has any field been more subjected to religious fanboyism on every level , everyone making a god out of the technology they know and understand and being suspicious of learning something new from the ground up.

obviously in amongst all that their are some very clever people with a huge capacity for learning but they are relatively rare so no sensible engineer builds a system that *expects* that

Right you are. It is tough to separate religion from software.

WHOA!!!

Creationism vs. Big Band (Freudian typo, should have been "Bang")
Microsoft vs. Apple
McMaster Carr vs. MSC
Sam Harris vs. Ayn Rand
yada, yada, yada

Me thinks me found some truth!

When I worked for a small jobshop that designed and built custom automation, I developed a customer questionnaire. One of the questions was "Who are your preferred vendors for Hydraulics, Pneumatics, PLC's, etc.?" Everyone has their comfort zone, knowledge of what they are familiar with, and most importantly of all, what parts are they already stocking, and what vendors are they already dealing with/have accounts with.

The owner of the company looked at that question and said "That's brilliant. We never thought to ask our customers that question before."