@d72d5211 @44a8e2ed @3862d25e A recent example of this is with the old copper telephone network. Even if we wanted to maintain our landline network as a fall back for emergencies (and it has been discussed) we can’t because the necessary hardware isn’t made any more. The skills required to maintain the equipment are dying out. 

It’s kind of cute how Cuba managed to survive with 1950s American cars, but that’s not a practical way to manage a modern economy. 

 @29b9efc5 there's a wilful blindness, even from the folks who're employed for their expertise in the subject. I spend all my time face-in-palm when I see how, for example, universities who literally train people to work with digital technology, consistently hobble all their learners with dumbass policy created by precisely the least worthy of doing so.  @44a8e2ed @3862d25e 

 @29b9efc5 further on that thought: universities should be merging their comp sci and operational IT departments, employing their students to provide services rather than the (mostly) Microsoft drones (who know literally nothing else) they currently employ. @44a8e2ed @3862d25e