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1. Dave Lane 🇳🇿 (lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 11:32:51 JST Dave Lane 🇳🇿

   Just got a couple emails from a NZ tech org I used to belong to but dropped out as I couldn't see any value in being part of it. That was reinforced with these "strategy" email. Their main ideas were:
   - more 'Big Tech' in NZ, and
   - economic growth.

   Big Sigh. These people are smart.. but they've got no big picture perspective. They don't realise that 'Big Tech' don't 'partner'. No. They 'suck dry'.

   And isn't it obvious our dumb growth mindset is what's got us to this dangerous point? Floods?

   • Adrian Cochrane repeated this.
   • Dave Lane 🇳🇿 (lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 11:41:27 JST Dave Lane 🇳🇿

     in reply to

     The most depressing thing, though, is that it's these folks who are engaging with government on technology. It's pains me deeply. They're not looking at any big pictures, they're only looking at their own business interests. Which, in most cases, are trying to emulate 'big tech'. Little real ambition, little consideration of what's best for our society. And, of course, they think that the only way to do tech is the 'Silicon Valley' way. Proprietary to the hilt. It's just depressing.

   • Adrian Cochrane (alcinnz@floss.social)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 11:43:10 JST Adrian Cochrane

     in reply to

     @lightweight And its not like there aren't kiwis available to show them alternative ways of thinking...

     But didn't you share a news article indicating Ardern's aids said she didn't have time for them but did for Big Tech?

   • Adrian Cochrane (alcinnz@floss.social)'s status on Thursday, 02-Feb-2023 01:19:14 JST Adrian Cochrane

     in reply to

     • Lien Rag

     @lightweight @lienrag The excitement from politicians like Ardern & journalists over "finally having a cloud in NZ" despite home-grown ones already existing was something I found very disturbing!

   • Dave Lane 🇳🇿 (lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz)'s status on Thursday, 02-Feb-2023 01:19:16 JST Dave Lane 🇳🇿

     in reply to

     • Adrian Cochrane
     • Lien Rag

     @lienrag @alcinnz yes. She's hopeless in that area, and poorly advised. When Microsoft announced they were going to build an Azure node in NZ, she was effusive, saying how great it would be to finally have a 'cloud in NZ'... despite the fact that NZ-owned companies have had world-class clouds - largely snubbed by gov't - for almost a decade. It was a real slap in the face for the domestic providers. She also fawned over Bill Gates when he visited, similarly other US tech barons.

   • Lien Rag (lienrag@mastodon.tedomum.net)'s status on Thursday, 02-Feb-2023 01:19:18 JST Lien Rag

     in reply to

     • Adrian Cochrane

     @alcinnz @lightweight

     Hey, I've been following your (legitimate and well explained) rants about New Zealand tech policy for a while, but I hadn't made the connexion that all this was happening under the government of Jacinda Ardem, who (from afar) seems to be quite a good one, and was an example of good government for covid management...
     So even she is that bad concerning tech ?

   • Charliebrownau (charliebrownau@pieville.net)'s status on Saturday, 04-Feb-2023 16:41:30 JST Charliebrownau

     in reply to

     @lightweight government is the problem

     Government is the barrier

     Government is the prevention to SOLVE actual problems