Brain melts. pic.twitter.com/DWFZy7JQL0
— Aysha Ridzuan (@ayshardzn) March 24, 2023
This whole Tiktok hearing in Congress reinforces my belief in that we need an entry requirement for politics (just like any company out there) to ensure better and smarter politicians lead the country. Basic knowledge of the internet and technology in general should be a requirement. Some of the questions during the hearing were so elementary and mind-numbingly stupid.
I am not particularly tech savvy although back when I was in the workforce I was fairly up to date on computer/tech info. But even I probably know enough not to ask stupid questions. Further, it is not only the area of technology about which so many of our congresspersons are ignorant, they fail in most areas of science, medicine, mental health, logic, history, social studies, the constitution, international affairs….I could go on. Why are there no minimum qualifications for the job, like any other form of employment? These people are there to do, not only "the will of the people" (as if they even care about the will of the people) but to do the work of governing. Enough…my words are about as effective as a fart in the wind.
Yeah, it's kind of amazing. I'm at a science agency, and like most of the science agencies were working on AI and quantum computing research, and the sheer computer illiteracy of the lawmakers on even basics, much less more advanced computing, is appalling. Gingrich definitely fucked Congress over when he eliminated the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, because they no longer have a congressionally-controlled source of information about tech issues. All they can do is ask for briefings from the Executive Branch, and we know how that can get twisted from the previous administration's track record.