A case for more engineers in politics
A case for more engineers in politics
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
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
Deep down I'm very superficial
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
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.
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.
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
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.
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.
Last edited by Simple Minded on Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
".... theoretically speaking, of course."noddy wrote:"... well actually"
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
"..however in my experience"Simple Minded wrote:".... theoretically speaking, of course."noddy wrote:"... well actually"
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
"Yes, of course.... but, in theory, theory and practix are the same. In practix, they're not."noddy wrote:"..however in my experience"Simple Minded wrote:".... theoretically speaking, of course."noddy wrote:"... well actually"
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
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.
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.
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
You been working with the white collar engineers. Totally different breed than the blue collar engineers who grew up on farms.noddy wrote: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.
White collar: "hey! that's my turf!"
Blue collar: "Let's git-r-done!"
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
nar, both types.
they just have different goats that need slaughtering at different stages of the project
they just have different goats that need slaughtering at different stages of the project
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
"...there's hard ware, and then there's software......"noddy wrote:nar, both types.
they just have different goats that need slaughtering ant different stages of the project
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
an engineer makes a potato chip.
SzgPOJPTo_A
SzgPOJPTo_A
ultracrepidarian
- Miss_Faucie_Fishtits
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Re: A case for more engineers in politics
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......
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/james ... ervatives/
He's not yet a politician though that might be a logical step in the process......
She irons her jeans, she's evil.........
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.noddy wrote:everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.
Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.
Last edited by Simple Minded on Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
I've noticed in the Brit motorcycle magazines that everyone is an engineer, and all fiddling/tinkering/masturbating is called engineering.noddy wrote:an engineer makes a potato chip.
SzgPOJPTo_A
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.
Last edited by Simple Minded on Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
Yep. Another data point for noddy's Nostrum.Miss_Faucie_Fishtits wrote: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......
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
"We" have a f**kin drinking song!!!!
That's always good start to being respected as a humon bean.
02lyCDaycfw
That's always good start to being respected as a humon bean.
02lyCDaycfw
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
But more engineers means..more..diversity!noddy wrote: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.
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.
Deep down I'm very superficial
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake ExtractSimple Minded wrote:What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.noddy wrote:everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.
Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
Ive noticed the opposite in my time in electronics and computingParodite wrote:But more engineers means..more..diversity!noddy wrote: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.
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.
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
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
Hell, I'd buy that sh*!!noddy wrote:ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake ExtractSimple Minded wrote:What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.noddy wrote:everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.
Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.
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!"
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
the proof is presented, engineers are problem solvers.Simple Minded wrote:Hell, I'd buy that sh*!!noddy wrote:ill rebrand it in america as Simple's Snake ExtractSimple Minded wrote:What you just described is obviously a "software problem......" Probably in their BIOS.noddy wrote:everythings a software problem to the hardware engineer.
Forever more to be known as noddy's Nostrum.
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!"
ultracrepidarian
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
Told ya! Thanks for the dopamine hit. Life is good!noddy wrote:
the proof is presented, engineers are problem solvers.
Re: A case for more engineers in politics
Right you are. It is tough to separate religion from software.noddy wrote:
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
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."