Brin, Niven and Pournelle [1] showed up for a government panel and a Con broke out.
I love it.
[1] And twenty-one others.
Via.
“Do you know how politically incorrect you are?” Pournelle asked (Niven).
“I know it may not be possible to use this solution, but it does work,” Niven replied.
“My guess is we won’t need quite so many paid agents of the state to do that for us, which means maybe we can try being a republic instead of an incompetent empire,” he (Pournelle) said, then railed against the Transportation Security Administration for treating passengers like “subjects” rather than “citizens.”
The 45-minute panel discussion quickly deteriorated as federal, local and state homeland security officials, and at least one congressional aid, attempted to ask questions, which were largely ignored.
Instead the writers used their time to pontificate on a variety of tangentially related topics, including their past roles advising the government, predictions in their stories that have come to pass, the demise of the paperback book market, and low-cost launch into space.
David Brin, keeping on the topic of empowering citizens with mobile phone technology, delivered a self-described “rant” on the lack of funds being spent to support citizen reservists to back up the military, homeland security officials and first responders in times of crisis.
“It is impossible for you to succeed without us!” he shouted at the assembled officials, while banging his fist on the table and at one point jumping off his chair to wave a mobile phone in their faces
I love it.
[1] And twenty-one others.
Via.
