Comment by ks2048
8 days ago
I've learned about the USDS in the past on hackernews and was always impressed. If someone wanted to really make a "DOGE" in good-faith (i.e. improve efficiency of government instead of just destroying everything), I think it would look like expanding the power and scope of things like USDS.
I agree. Have always felt that USDS/18F are best in class examples of tech innovation being brought to perhaps slightly tech-backwards areas of government, and doing the interpersonal work to bring other agencies along as well.
The UK’s Government Digital Service is similar. They’ve got some good examples of doing unglamorous but impactful work -e.g. replacing dozens of different payment processing systems with one quality one, the same thing for sending physical letters, etc.
Are you sure this isn’t bias from your personal interest? Is IT and bad websites the problem with the government?
I also don’t buy Elon’s messaging that a database upgrade will save social security, or whatever.
Bad websites make the times we interact with the government much less efficient than it otherwise would be, especially if a artifice has no reasonable online alternative and instead required in person appointments, costing you time, requiring additional staff, and requiring office space.
One of the best examples of this is passport renewal. In the US until very recently you were unable to do this online, either having to print and mail in a form or go in person to an office.
Another example is the work of 18F to allow Americans easy direct filing of their taxes without the need (or cost) of a third party.
> It IT and bad websites the problem with the government?
It is and was a pretty significant one, now less important compared to a literal seig-heiling nazi running the government.
Last time literal seig-heiling nazis ran a government, it wasn't great.
> I also don’t buy Elon’s messaging that a database upgrade will save social security, or whatever.
This is not what Elon is saying or doing or planning to do.