October 13, 2006 2:36PM 

# How, Again, Is This a Good Use of My Tax Dollars? 

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

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This week, Robert Cresanti, the under secretary of commerce for technology, presented the [first-ever “Recognition of Excellence in Innovation](http://www.technology.gov/PRel/ma061005.htm)” award to [ODIN Technologies](http://www.odintechnologies.com/) of Dulles, Virginia.

*Why on earth* a federal bureaucrat should run around giving awards to local firms is beyond me. Perhaps Technology Under Secretary Cresanti could have taken the day off. Or maybe just retired, if no actual work is pressing for his time.

Let’s make the “Recognition of Excellence in Innovation” award a really special honor by discontinuing it. (Tell ODIN that nobody could ever reach the standard they’ve set.)

I mean, really. Mad as hell and not gonna take it any more. Happy Friday.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Regulation](https://www.cato.org/regulatory-studies), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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