This is a linkpost for https://dominiccummings.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/201702-effective-action-2-systems-engineering-to-systems-politics.pdf
The pattern-matching part of my brain sees the author as a modern analogy of Chesterton -- a highly intelligent and educated person who decided to put their skills in defense of a political bottom line, by trying to repaint it as hidden rationality. He almost makes you believe that a victory of his political side would mean a victory of rationality, just because he can convincingly connect these two things in his head, and put that on paper. Problem is, his position is absolutely not representative of the political side he defends, and 99% of people on his political side have completely different priorities.
This said, his description of NASA in its best days is really cool. I just don't share his implied belief that Brexit is somehow related to that. My prediction is that 5 or 10 years later, Britain will not be any more NASA-like than it is now. And neither will be USA under Trump, France under Le Pen, Hungary under Orbán, etc. This is all just wishful thinking for contrarians.
And neither will be USA under Trump, France under Le Pen, Hungary under Orbán, etc. This is all just wishful thinking for contrarians.
I can easily imagine that under Trump various prestige projects will be organized this way.
Till now it's just that it's "we will put a wall between the US and Mexico" instead of "we will put a man on the moon". Both cost two digits of billions.