Scobleizer - Latest Comments in Who should be USA’s CTO?

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Kabala — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:22:58 -0000

thanks

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

infobisnis-qwonk — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:18:39 -0000

Why not Steve Jobs?”

Because he has a real job to do.

There is no need for yet another federal official to interfere with the computer industry. We got where we are today because we were largely left alone.

“Carly is a fantastically intelligent, technically literate, strategically effective, driven person who has the unique ability to work in both the tech and consumer worlds at the same time. ”

I see you’ve been reading her PR. Try talking to any HP employee for a different opinion. For that matter, try talking to any of the people from Lucent who were thrilled to see her go.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Prokofy — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:44:59 -0000

This is a terrible, terrible idea. Not only a terrible idea even to have a "CTO position," but to put Lessig or Arrington or any other Silicon Valley technolibertarian or socialist. Bad, bad idea.

Lessig has been struggling for greater power and influence ever since he left Creative Commons, where he worked intensively to destroy the connection between intellectual property and commerce, and now he thinks "transparency" and "corruption" in government are a lucrative field -- except, of course, if Obama comes in, he's not going to be wanting to look too closely at Obama and his supporters (he's an Obama advisor) so what will he have to do? So he'll look to get appointed to some position in government next, and is only being coy about claiming he 'doesn't want the job".

The larger issue, however, is the notion that you should even have such a technology czar untethered to the rest of our nation's policy machine. No, you don't get to install twittered and facebooked web 2.0 entities with flash mobs in power circumventing elected officials and the will of the American people.

Re: "View #1 is a person who could help shape our nation’s tech policies. This person would need to be a great speaker, because he or she would need to go to places like the World Economic Forum and communicate what our tech policy should be."

No, we don't need them to communicate what our tech policy is at some global body which will be politicized and reflect the tech policies of other great powers, some direct enemies. The UN or the WEF is the last place you go to shape policy; you have to start at home. And that means starting in the political process, and not installing extremists with agendas.

Just as the above poster said about "Energy Czar" (and we still have them for some regions like Eurasia), it's a way of creating less responsibility in government, not more, and giving a windfall to one lobby, in this case, Silicon Valley. No thanks.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

$32699995 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:57:06 -0000

Robert:
Well, you've compiled an interesting list, but anyone who has headed their own startup or moved technology forward in thought (Lessig) or deed (Gates) has done more to advance technology than any position, real or imagined, in the Fedgov.
The real question: is "national CTO" a policy position, an "advisor" position, or an "internal leadership" to the Fedgov position?
As the City of Seattle's CTO (also known as "Chief Geek"), I've given this some thought and blogged about it here: blog.chiefseattlegeek.com .
In the end, I agree with Vint Cerf: the last thing we need is another Fedgov "czar" (i.e. "drug" or "intelligence" or "war on poverty"). But I think we sure could use a skilled bureaucrat to harness the great technologies developed by the private sector for use in running the Fedgov and making it more efficient, effective and transparent in service to citizens.
-bill

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Some Guy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:52:54 -0000

For all of you people who are enamored of the idea of a CTO of the federal government, let me remind you of the words of Thomas Jefferson, from our Declaration of Independance:

"He hath erected a multitude of officers, and sent them forth to harass our people and eat out their substance."

Let me also remind you that we've had a couple of similar jobs in the federal government, and they've been basically useless. Anyone remember that it was Tricky Dick Nixon (one of the worst presidents we've ever had) who invented the post of "Energy Czar"?

Get a grip, people. This is a bonehead idea.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Some Guy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:47:45 -0000

"Why not Steve Jobs?"

Because he has a real job to do.

There is no need for yet another federal official to interfere with the computer industry. We got where we are today because we were largely left alone.

"Carly is a fantastically intelligent, technically literate, strategically effective, driven person who has the unique ability to work in both the tech and consumer worlds at the same time. "

I see you've been reading her PR. Try talking to any HP employee for a different opinion. For that matter, try talking to any of the people from Lucent who were thrilled to see her go.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Dan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:36:16 -0000

I think people are looking at this all wrong. You don't want great IT CEO's in the position. You want great CIO/CTO's of large companies.
Gary Reiner - CIO GE
Jean-Michel R. Arès - CIO Coca Cola
Rollin Ford - CIO Walmart

These are the type of people that could make some real progress in the role.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Doc Searls — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:14:40 -0000

Good question, Robert. Thanks for asking it.

I second Ed Felten.

And, while I appreciate Phil Whitehouse's nomination of yours truly, I'm busy and far less qualified than Ed (and many others).

FWIW, the extant Office of Science and Technology Policy is here: http://www.ostp.gov. It's headed by John H. Marburger, III. Here's a quick look at its bureaucracy: http://www.ostp.gov/cs/abou....

I'll say more in Linux Journal this morning. Have a look over there if you're interested. http://linuxjournal.com.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Yodeler — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:00:27 -0000

In the second role that Lessig mentioned -- pioneering the use of technology -- you should all be watching people already involved with the Obama campaign. Adam D'Angelo may be too young, but watch out for Leonard Lin. He's got a rare combination of geek knowledge and a Jedi-like ability to make bureaucracies work for him. After selling his startup to Yahoo he became involved in the movement to rejuvenate the company and had some notable successes. Taking on antiquated procedures in federal government would be an even bigger challenge, but he might be the guy for the job.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Anthony Papillion — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:48:21 -0000

Robert,

I like all the candidates you suggested but I think there's still someone I believe is very often overlooked: Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of HP.

Carly is a fantastically intelligent, technically literate, strategically effective, driven person who has the unique ability to work in both the tech and consumer worlds at the same time. She understands how technology can and does effect our lives and has shown a gift for crafting corporate strategy to be both effective and efficient.

Personally, I think Carly would be a fantastic choice. Too bad her time at HP has tainted her a bit. But I think if we look at her accomplishments beyond HP, we can see how she would be a strong candidate.

That'd be my choice.
That'd be pretty damn cool.

Anthony

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

steve — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:11:41 -0000

Shai Agassi and Eric Brewer spring to mind...

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Borlock — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:54:47 -0000

Bill Gates would actually be the ideal candicate for this. (As long as he doesn't have directly influence over policy, but serve only as an advisory role to the leadership).

* He has a fantasic ability to grasp a hugely disparate set of very complex technology, and a great ability to articulate it to those who don't.
* He is already retired and don't control Microsoft tactical operations anymore.
* He already has done large filantropic work to make technology available to the masses, inline with the democratic platform.
* He is socially liberal, and used to be a democrat until Microsoft was attacked under the Clinton presidency (at which point he switched). Either way I don't think he'll mind serving under a Democratic president.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

celery — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:22:22 -0000

Any name will just create "Oh Hell NO" type responses. I think this is just a way to drum up page hits... Like I just did

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Jason Goldberg — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:15:06 -0000

Sorry but we need Prof Lessing to reform US intellectual property law, not as CTO.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

DV — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:13:19 -0000

I nominate Lew Rockwell.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Guest — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:48:41 -0000

Right. Like any of those are actually really options.

Here's a real list of candidates, ignoring all the retarded and Web 2.0 options: http://www.kyle-brady.com/2...

--Kyle

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Samson — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:36:12 -0000

If you could get Tantek Celik of Technorati to move from San Francisco then he might take the CTO position in DC...not!

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Guest — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:45:55 -0000

My votes for Lessig! Why? Just watch him talking about John McCain's
tech- politics; http://lessig.org/blog/2008...

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Christopher Coulter — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:55:23 -0000

Long Tail Stephen Manesish Corollary - Less of Lessig, is actually More.

We don't need a CTO, just as most good companies don't need self-important 'IT as an entity' CTO or CIOs, as every technology decision is in reality just a business decision.

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Dario Salvelli — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:39:22 -0000

[OT] - Sorry for the OT, what do u think Robert? http://www.intel.com/pressr...

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Dr. Known — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:39:36 -0000

I'd recommend Linus Torvalds!

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Jerry — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:49:59 -0000

@Dave Winer:

In case you aren't from this country and live in a socialist state, we have something in this country called capitalism. It allows companies to succeed or fail based on the free market. In addition, if I'm not mistaken we already have a bureaucracy the regulates the hell out of companies like Comcast, thank you. Any role this mythical CTO would play in this space would be somewhat redundant. . The LAST thing we need is MORE govt. intervention. But I understand that's anathema to Democrats.

The country does not need a CTO. What critical, pressing problem does the US have that this "national" CTO would solve that that justifies me paying more Federal taxes to support such a position?

Mark's insightful comments only serve to reinforce how naive, inexperienced and clueless Barry H. Obama-ssiah is. A "national" CTO! Gimme a break! How ignorant about the Federal Govt can this man be? Did he even pay attention on the rare occasions he showed up on the Senate floor?

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Michael K Pate — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:17:28 -0000

The only choice: John C. Dvorak

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Kathy Sierra — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:16:58 -0000

Chris Messina
Tim O'Reilly
Esther Dyson

Re: Who should be USA’s CTO?

Dave — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:32:45 -0000

This is one of the most ignorant posts I've ever read. The last thing this country needs is another buraucracy. But leave it to Democrats (Barry) to think more govt. is better. Each and every Dept of (fill in the blank) has a technology officer, as does TOTP. I'm not sure what problems the US is having in this space that are serious enough to warrant me paying more in Federal taxes to expand govt.

Actually Al Gore would be a good choice. Not because he's smart; he's actually a moron. But he's perfect fit because he is the biggest policy wonk ever, and a moron, so thankfully nothing would get done.