Author Archive
Ideas
Threat Levels and Dangerous Biscuits
I was rather entertained a few weeks ago when I <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43528&dcn=e_hsw">read</a> that former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said politics was never a factor in determining whether the nation's color-coded terror-alert level should be raised.
Ideas
Defense Giant Passes Away
The defense acquisition, systems and software engineering communities lost one of the true giants this week with the passing Monday of retired Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer at the age of 83.
Ideas
Show Me The Plan!
I don't know if Roger Baker is a "<a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/07/rock_star_cios.php">rock star</a>" CIO, but I do think Mr. Baker is an extremely competent one who seems intent, along with his boss, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, on creating a new standard for IT governance, risk management and project accountability in the federal government.
Ideas
Public CIOs: Optimistic or Conservative?
It was great to <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090630_2193.php">see</a> that U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra was able to get the new federal government <a href="http://it.usaspending.gov/#">IT dashboard</a> up and running as promised by the end of June. Score one for a government group meeting an IT promise on schedule.
Ideas
The CIA Memo Transparency Test
It was probably the stark absurdity of the situation that created the final decision tipping point: release classified documents relating to the CIA waterboarding of captured Al Qaeda members, but move mightily to keep information about aircraft bird strikes from the public.
Ideas
Follow the Bonuses
I am greatly heartened to see all the moral outrage that the AIG bonuses are bringing out in our politicians.
Ideas
Improving Government Through Breathalyzers
Assuming that the soon-to-be Obama administration is serious about <a href="http://change.gov/page/content/americanmoment">entertaining new ideas</a> for creating an open approach to government, I thought a review of some ideas for improving government that other countries are contemplating might be worth considering here as well. </p><p> In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Tory Party is going <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5168006.ece">to make</a> their MPs receive compulsory lessons in scientific literacy in order to strengthen evidence-based policy making. The Conservative Party is concerned about the lack of scientific expertise and understanding in both the House of Commons and in Whitehall.
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