Quote:
Originally Posted by bunt_q
Exactly. And people wonder why I quit practicing planning/engineering to become a lawyer. People may despise us, but we don't have to put up with that kind of shit except from our clients. Really, it's not like there's a lot of subjectivity in a cost estimate. The only way to read that is this guy telling the consultants they suck at their jobs... which makes sense. Who doesn't think they can do planning/engineering just as well as a planner/engineer? There was some letter to the editor yesterday also saying how dams are pointless when it doesn't rain - actually no, that's exactly when they're not pointless. No respect for science and knowledge, none whatsoever. Because every opinion is right anymore, whether or not the facts are correct (do we believe in facts in America?), and we all get 10th place trophies. I'm just waiting for a sociology professor to chime in on some medical story to tell a doctor why his diagnosis and treatment was wrong.
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Times keep changing, and, continues to.
IMO, in the US all government sectors, particularly those involved in either designing future projects or supervise projects in extant, are becoming steadily more (if that is possible) beaurocratic. The transportation sector, seems among the most ossified.
For example,, while I understand and sympathize somewhat with those at CDOT that are looking for transportation plans 40 even 50 years out, I am struck by the idea of looking two career life times out for capital projects. Imagine making $70,000 or $80,000+ and being involved in 'working' future needs projects to be constructed? or built by 2053 or 2063. I suspect that those that do have to take a 'reflective' view about why they are working there, adapt by doing what is asked with minimal grumbling, and, take their dreaming to other parts of their lives. Organizations such as CDOT, RTD, and, the folks at DIA take the 'long' view, which, by definition must produce design orthodoxy, and, well cultivated political connections. Naturally, those just out of school, and, those who become blog participants during periods when large organizations with construction budgets are somewhat fluid (like during the Environment Statement Phases), tend to become disillusioned with time.
We do not live in an era in the US where radical infrastructural change is desired by those with power and money. Rather, we live in an era of talking heads who echo the party word, i.e., what will be built anyway, regardless of brilliant input from the refined or hack intellectual, at virtually any step in the planning and regulatory compliance process prior to construction. When those with the real power make mistakes in design, zoning, construction, etc., we, the public, are asked to share in the 'group learning experience.'
During conservative*times large organizations become tightly controlled both formally via written hierachy and informally, by spies (those without much talent but possess high survival skills). While youthful palaver is tolerated (John will learn the ropes soon...give him some time), meaningful criticism of what WILL BE DONE that reaches the public is not.
And hey, there are scads of un or underemployed planners, designers, architects, and US engineers that are busy networking as they try to get a job at one of these large organizations, so:
"Don't rock the boat."
Above all, conservative* ages seem to create- at least since the printing press- writers, and, observers who toe the line. The 'great' leaders are eulogized (Phil Anschutz and the brilliance of AEG come to mind- what planning disasters that man has made hundreds of millions on), and, the 'great' projects communicated in a largely, internet and newspaper party line.
*'Conservative' in the definiton expressived in the 3rd meaning of 'conservative' in Webster's Third Internation Dictionary, page 483, " one who adheres to traditional, time tested, long standing methods procedures or views.
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IMO Fortunately, while practising law involves earning your metal through countless hours of work that might not be recognized, lawyers tend to work for 'smaller' organizations with case by case agendas, or for large organizations to define specific policy, government compliance, tax, and, tort issues.