1) Block is only willing to help so that he can get his name in the paper again to satisfy his empire state sized ego.

2) Chafee has no interest in getting rid of the waste, fraud, and abuse, because it was, in large part, the wasters, frauds, and abusers that put him in office.

Are you really too blind to see this stuff?

Hey Raspy, you're right. I don't get it. So you may as well stop reading and commenting. It's a waste of your obvious talents.

Willing to help as in my firm's programmers will do the work for free or willing to help as in I'll sit in on some high-level meetings and then have a leg up on the eventual bid to do the work?

My guess is, there are lot's of software firms "willing to help," so long as there's the promise of a couple years consulting work in the bargain.

Marc,

It's clear that you don't like me, which is fine, because I don't like you either.

But please address the point that both I and Russ made. Do you disagree that this is just a bunch of baloney to satisfy Block's ego? And do you agree or disagree that Chafee is indebted to the waters, frauds, and abusers?

I'm not answering for Marc, but I'll wade in.

Block is not just feeding his ego. This is something he's been doing, except for pay. It's what he knows how to do, however I really believe he wants to help, so he's volunteering his time. He's probably going public with it because he does want to help and he knows that a simple phone call to the Governor's office probably would not go returned.

I agree with you on Chafee. He's a sewer rat, so he's got no interest in cleaning up the sewer.

"It's what he knows how to do... so he's volunteering his time."

Again, if that's it, then it's the kind of "volunteerism" you can get from any major software consultancy.

Now on the other hand if he's talking about using his resources to undertake the project, then no doubt the state should be receptive to that type of proposal. For instance:

smartercitieschallenge.org (note the 2011 recipients)

"then it's the kind of "volunteerism" you can get from any major software consultancy."

No, what Block is volunteering to do is exactly what he made his millions on. Selling software that finds waste in government.

That's different from any major software consultancy.

"Do you disagree that this is just a bunch of baloney to satisfy Block's ego?"

Who cares??? He's got a good track record finding waste and abuse. Let's try him out!

Raspy, au contrair mon frere, I don't "hate" you. I don't even know you. It's obvious by your comments that you have a serious ax to grind with Avedisian and Republicans (maybe even "hate" them), while you also seem to hold some conservative views. Fine. I'm always willing to give commenters the benefit of the doubt and engage in conversation in good faith. It's only when you come at me with baseless, hyperbolic rants that I start to tune you out. You're tuned out.

"That's different from any major software consultancy."

Not so. While that's not necessarily typical for a small firm, any "major" consulting firm would have experience with that type of activity. For example, here's one picked randomly...
www-304.ibm.com/industries/publicsector/us/en/contentemplate1/!!/xmlid=182419

What do you want to bet that IBM would offer free (at least upfront) services to discuss how the problem could be addressed?