April 20, 2009 10:37AM 

# Appointees Are Like Astronauts 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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Did you ever notice how astronauts are praised simply for being astronauts? They have heroism imputed to them simply for what they might do in the future.

So it is with political appointees, such as the chief technology officer President Obama named Saturday morning during his weekly radio and Internet address. [Reports](http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/18/tech-industry-cheers-as-obama-taps-aneesh-chopra-for-cto/) the *Wall Street Journal*:

> Silicon Valley execs and tech bloggers sounded genuinely excited about Obama’s choice Saturday morning and tech industry lobbying groups TechNet and the Business Software Alliance quickly released statements of support, as did several tech heavyweights.

Would any group with business before the government, hoping for influence and goodies from the White House, *not* praise an appointee? We learn from these paeans precisely nothing.

To me, [Aneesh Chopra](http://www.technology.virginia.gov/OfficeInfo/chopraBio.cfm) is an empty vessel. He looks like a nice person and appears to have suitable experience for the job he’s been named to. My substantive comments about him will wait until there is something on which to comment. I look forward to his first space-walk.

##### Related Tags 

[Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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