I suspect that this is about quality of product. Chicken has had a lot of problems with poisoning people here in the US (since our standards for the environment where chickens are kept isn't designed to reduce disease - rather, it encourages disease.) People have gotten sick from Costco chickens - and Costco's better smaller suppliers have been taken over by the large producers - and of course people start dying again. As long as the profits stay high chicken producers are able to get laws passed to avoid any real regulation. Corrupt government is the real problem we should all be trying to solve as software developers.
> Corrupt government is the real problem we should all be trying to solve as software developers.
While I agree it's a problem we should all be trying to solve, I'm not sure what being software developers has to do with it. To me, that statement sounds just as odd as if you had said "corrupt government is the real problem we should all be trying to solve as retail employees."
Software and networks might have some role in a solution, but I think any worthwhile solution will start with people and policy, and possibly use software and networks to help (just as it may use resources from other professional industries, economists, such as legal professionals, etc). I think any solution that comes out of trying to shove computer science theory and practice at the problem is most likely doomed to fail.
Actually, if I had to choose one discipline to that had the most to offer to this problem, it would definitely be economics.
> I'm not sure what being software developers has to do with it.
For example by providing a safe way to whistle-blow. Or by making encrypted communication more accessible (Decades after PGP invention, e-mail crypto borders on unusability). Or by fighting against laws that mainly serve to introduce censorship. Or, by not helping governments censor or manipulate their populace (hello Cisco).
The biggest enemy for a corrupt government is journalism and whistle-blowing.
OpenSecrets[1] and Sunlight Foundation[2] are great places to start. That said, IMO the greatest change is achieved by canvassing, working in public policy, or running for office oneself. Senator Jacky Rosen (D - NV), a former Software Developer, is a great example.
Well, who is making decisions and how are they being made. What metrics matter? How can we judge them better? How can we improve them in people?
Or, to go even further, have you ever seen Star Trek where they use the holodeck for Training? They have many real-world scenarios so that they can build experience. Couldn't the same be done in many other domains.
