Block Willing to Help

I heard a little bit of Ken Block this morning on the Helen Glover Show explaining how he was willing to help the state reduce the fraud, waste and abuse in its social services programs. For free. According to Ian Donnis, Governor Chafee is “receptive” to the offer.
Duh.
Tell me, how often does someone with a track record of finding savings offer to help for free? OK, OK. In all fairness, Block hasn’t formally offered his services yet and will do so at a public hearing later this week.

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Rasputin
Rasputin
12 years ago

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?

Marc
Marc
12 years ago

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.

Russ
Russ
12 years ago

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.

Rasputin
Rasputin
12 years ago

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?

Patrick
Patrick
12 years ago

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.

Russ
Russ
12 years ago

“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)

Patrick
Patrick
12 years ago

“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.

Monique
Editor
12 years ago

“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!

Marc
Marc
12 years ago

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.

Russ
Russ
12 years ago

“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?

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